Marseille host Strasbourg to kick off this season's Ligue 1 campaign on Friday night
Last season's surprise package Lens entertain Auxerre in Saturday's early game
Champions Paris Saint-Germain travel to Rennes to close out the first round of fixtures on Sunday night
The 2026-27 Ligue 1 season gets under way on Friday and it looks set to be an intriguing campaign, with 12 teams changing managers over the summer.
That will make the race to finish best of the rest behind likely champions Paris Saint-Germain all the more exciting, and there may even be some upsets on the opening weekend.
Marseille vs Strasbourg - Friday August 21 (7.45pm)
Marseille are one of those to change manager and new boss Bruno Genesio is unlikely to be left waiting for a first win as Strasbourg have lost plenty of key men over the summer, including Valentin Barco and Emmanuel Emegha.
Prediction: Marseille 2-0 Strasbourg (7/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Lens vs Auxerre - Saturday August 22 (4.15pm)
Last season’s runners-up Lens have been decimated over the summer, losing manager Pierre Sage and key midfielders Adrien Thomasson and Mamadou Sangare, but they will be full of confidence after defeating PSG in the French Super Cup and should still prove too good for Auxerre, who finished 15th last term.
Prediction: Lens 1-0 Auxerre (6/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Troyes vs Paris FC - Saturday August 22 (7.45pm)
Ligue 2 champions Troyes would love to mark their top-flight return with a win but doing so may prove tricky. Only PSG have spent more than Paris FC and Liam Rosenior has the squad to mark his own Ligue 1 return with a victory.
Prediction: Troyes 1-2 Paris FC (13/2 with LiveScore Bet)
Le Mans vs Brest - Saturday August 22 (7.45pm)
The other promoted side, Le Mans, may have more joy, as they are unbeaten in 15 home games and face a Brest side who ended last season with a nine-match winless run.
Prediction: Le Mans 2-1 Brest (13/2 with LiveScore Bet)
Nice vs Lorient - Saturday August 22 (7.45pm)
After a dreadful season which required a promotion/relegation play-off to secure survival, Nice will be hoping for better this time. They have not added too much quality to the squad, however, and may have to settle for a draw with Lorient, who have lost only three of their last 13 away games.
Prediction: Nice 1-1 Lorient (24/5 with LiveScore Bet)
Toulouse vs Lyon - Saturday August 22 (7.45pm)
Paulo Fonseca is one of few Ligue 1 managers to keep their job and that should see Lyon improve on a solid fourth-place finish. Toulouse finished 15 points behind OL last term and have lost too many key men - most notably manager Carles Martínez Novell to Bayer Leverkusen - to suggest they will open with a win.
Prediction: Toulouse 0-2 Lyon (17/2 with LiveScore Bet)
Angers vs Lille - Sunday August 23 (2pm)
Lille have rolled the dice by hiring a relative managerial rookie in Davide Ancelotti, son of Carlo. He may not turn out to be as good as his dad but Lille’s core remains and a strong squad which finished third last term should have enough to make it five straight head-to-head wins.
Prediction: Angers 1-3 Lille (9/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Le Havre vs Monaco - Sunday August 23 (4.15pm)
A huge 19 points separated Monaco and Le Havre last term and that gulf is likely to show as new Monegasques boss Filipe Luis has been given some exciting signings to work with while their Normandy-based hosts have done most of their shopping in the free-agent market.
Prediction: Le Havre 0-2 Monaco (7/1 with LiveScore Bet)
PSG vs Rennes - Sunday August 23 (7.45pm)
Champions PSG were rocked by last weekend’s Super Cup defeat to Lens and things are not guaranteed to get better against Rennes.
The visitors finished sixth and only two points off third last term, and have had the most impressive window of any Ligue 1 side. They can take the game to the Parisians and the amount of attacking talent on show should lead to a goalfest.
Prediction: PSG 2-2 Rennes (17/2 with LiveScore Bet)
