Well, as I look at this Ligue 1 review, this SBOTOP writer has a confession to make. I thought this 2025/26 Ligue 1 campaign would be a procession, as PSG continue their quest for domestic and global domination!
The Parisiens are top of the league for sure, but only by a single point. After taking maximum from their opening four games, Luis Enrique’s all-stars have suffered a stuttering few weeks, winning just one of their last four. A 1-0 loss to Marseille in September started the stumble, and while PSG recovered to beat Auxerre, back-to-back draws have allowed the chasing pack to drag the leaders back into the race. Now, only two points separate the top four.
PSG picked up a 1-1 draw away to Lille before the international break and came back on Friday night, to be held in a 3-3 thriller at home to Strasbourg, the surprise package, which is currently second. And the Parisiens had to fight back from a two-goal deficit to hold on to top place as, if Strasbourg had seen out the win, they would have woken up on Saturday morning as league leaders.
The champions started brightly enough as Bradley Barcola took a pass from Desire Doue and gave the hosts a sixth-minute lead. But a brace from Joaquin Panichelli, either side of the break, and a goal from Diego Moreira put the visitors firmly in charge. PSG clawed their way back into the game when Doue was fouled by the Strasbourg keeper and Goncalo Ramos converted the resulting penalty. And when Senny Mayulu scored at the second attempt, the teams were level with 10 minutes remaining.
Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia almost nicked it for the hosts, but his shot sailed just wide, and PSG picked up a fifth point from their last four games. So Strasbourg missed the chance to go top, and the latest Ligue 1 2025 betting odds are still firmly behind Enrique’s men. But they are not as certain as they were four weeks ago.
The sale of keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to Manchester City was a bold move, and it could be that, on the back of Kylian Mbappe’s departure to Real Madrid last year, the departure of some big characters at the Parc des Princes has made PSG look a little less invincible. They still have plenty of quality in the squad with the likes of Barcola, Kvaratskhelia, Doue, and Ousmane Dembele, but the chasing pack can smell blood.
And leading the charge are Le Classique rivals and last year’s runners-up Marseille, who have already given PSG a warning shot by beating them 1-0 thanks to a Marquinhos own goal. That victory was part of a four-match winning sequence, which also included victory over Strasbourg.
So while the Parisiens are on the slide, Les Olympians are on the charge. They come into the game on the back of a 3-0 win away to Metz and, captained by former Denmark star Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, they are playing with bags of confidence. Disgraced Manchester United player Mason Greenwood has found a home in Marseille and seems to be content to show what he can do on the pitch. Meanwhile, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Benjamin Pavard are the team’s proven winners.
Should Marseille slip up at the weekend, the top spot will open up for the resurgent Lyon, who, after almost dropping down to Ligue 2 due to the financial mire the club found itself in, has won four from six to climb up to fourth, behind OM on goal difference alone, with AS Monaco, RC Lens, and Lille in pursuit.
We’re only eight games in, but the Ligue 1 title race looks like it might be worth watching this year, and Marseille are gathering pace.
France in Europe
Roberto De Zerbi’s OM are in Champions League action on Wednesday when they visit Portugal to take on Sporting Lisbon. They lost their opener to Real Madrid but then whacked Ajax 4-0, with both Greenwood and Aubameyang on target. PSG have started their Champions League defence well, thrashing Atalanta 4-0 before beating Barcelona 2-1.
In other Champions League action, AS Monaco met Manchester City before the break and fought out an impressive 2-2 draw, which went a little way to repairing the damage of an opening 4-1 defeat at the hands of Club Brugge. In the Europa League, Lyon and Lille have both started with two wins from two, while Strasbourg opened with a win in the Europa Conference League.
European football is on the agenda again next week. But in the meantime, PSG fans will nervously watch the Ligue 1 2025 updates this weekend, particularly on Saturday afternoon when fourth-placed Lyon travel to Nice, and then in the night match when Marseille host Le Havre, who are currently in 14th and with just one win in six.
I suspect the champions will be toppled from their perch this weekend.
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