Lyon are best placed to challenge PSG, Patrick Vieira will hope to take Nice into Europe and Caen face a relegation battle

The title race

Anything other than an eighth Ligue 1 title in PSG’s history would be huge surprise. Although PSG have skirted the transfer spotlight so far this summer, with FFP still a concern, they have quietly made a few shrewd moves. Thomas Tuchel will make them a more proactive and tactically diverse team and Gianluigi Buffon could be the dressing room leader (and quality keeper) they have long lacked. Their 4-0 win over Monaco in the Trophée des Champions confirmed the gap is only widening.



Lyon have held on to midfielders Tanguy N’Dombélé, Lucas Tousart and Houssem Aouar as well as forwards Memphis Depay and Mariano Diaz. If they keep their captain, Nabil Fékir, they are best placed to challenge PSG, although there is a sense that Bruno Génésio is still only a move or two away from implosion.

Despite the disappointment of only finishing fourth and surrendering meekly in the Europa League final, Marseille have an opportunity to build on what was a positive campaign overall. Their only signings is Croatian centre-back Duje Caleta-Car, but they have resisted advances for Florian Thauvin so far. If they are to have any chance of challenging PSG, a striker is desperately needed after Valère Germain and Kostas Mitroglou suffered wayward seasons last term. Mario Balotelli could be their man.

Monaco work in cycles. A group of promising young players is carefully pieced together, their skills honed expertly by manager Leonardo Jardim, before an eye-catching achievement brings huge bids. Their glorious run to the title in 2017 ended the latest cycle and, now that Thomas Lemar and Fabinho have departed, Monaco have to hit reset. Little can be expected of this new group for now but a top-three spot is their aim. Although the additions of Alexander Golovin and host of Ligue 1 prospects is potentially exciting, the two Olympic clubs might be too strong for them even if Radamel Falcao and Kamil Glik stay and guide their new-look young side.

European chances

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Will Gus Poyet take Bordeaux into Europe or will he hit the big, red panic button? Photograph: Manuel Blondeau/Icon Sport/Getty Images

Having been at their lowest ebb for some time after a 5-0 home mauling by Rhône-Alpes rivals Lyon in October, Saint-Étienne gradually improved under Jean-Louis Gasset. Wahbi Khazri will be imminently joined by Rémy Cabella, superb on loan last term, and the equally rejuvenated Mathieu Debuchy and Yann M’Vila. With the leadership of silver-haired club legend Loïc Perrin in front of Ligue 1’s best keeper in Stéphane Ruffier and no European football to distract them, fifth place and a return to Europe might be a minimum expectation.

Questions were raised when Rennes appointed Sabri Lamouchi to replace veteran coach Christian Gourcuff last year, but his tenure has proven an unexpected success. They have lost Khazri to Saint-Étienne and centre-back Joris Gnagnon to Sevilla but have brought in promising forwards Jordan Siebatcheu and Romain del Castillo, as well as midfielder Clément Grenier. The continued development of Senegalese winger Ismaila Sarr alongside creator Benjamin Bourigeaud mean Rennes have a chance to establish themselves as European regulars this season.

Bordeaux made an astonishing recovery under Gus Poyet to take a European place having been relegation-threatened in December, but did so while relying heavily on winger Malcom. With the Brazilian sold to Barcelona and their rivals looking stronger, Poyet may not have it all his own way this season. He is no stranger to palming the big red self-destruct button and is seemingly already discontent about an underwhelming summer.

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Losing Claudio Ranieri could hold Nantes back from a push for the top six but new coach Miguel Cardoso – who guided Rio Ave to fifth in Portugal last year – has some exciting new players at his disposal in No10 Lucas Evangelista, proven Ligue 1 forward Majeed Waris and Brazilian winger Gabriel Boschilia.

Ligue 1 clubs have become accustomed to summer exoduses. Nice, however, have suffered through one of their most difficult windows in some time. Jean-Michaël Seri was worth more to them than the £18m they received from Fulham and they will also miss goals from Alassane Pléa and (most likely) Mario Balotelli. Lucien Favre, who has gone to Dortmund to replace Tuchel, remains their biggest loss. His nuanced, astute management helped Nice overachieve. Nevertheless, the excitement surrounding Patrick Vieira’s arrival and a handful of characteristically under-the-radar signings from a superb scouting team could yet be enough.

Relegation battle

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reims fans celebrate after their promotion to Ligue 1. Photograph: Francois Nascimbeni/AFP/Getty Images

Successive draws against PSG have provided Caen with a pair of unlikely final-day escapes in the last two campaigns, but they may not be as fortunate this time, having replaced the pragmatic Patrice Garande with Ligue 1 rookie Fabien Mercadal. The experience of midfielder Julien Féret, bullish centre-back Damien Da Silva and forward Ivan Santini will be missed.

Angers have continued to surprise since their return to Ligue 1 three years ago but Toko-Ekambi has been sold to Villarreal and midfield orchestrator Thomas Mangani is edging into his thirties and away from his best form. Stéphane Moulin’s magic might not be enough to keep them up this season.

Worryingly for Reims, many of the players who propelled them back to Ligue 1 as comfortable second-tier champions have moved on. Centre-back Julian Jeanvier has joined Brentford; midfield sentinel Danilson Da Cruz has remained in Ligue 2 with Nancy; forward Diego Rigonato has gone to Al Dhafra in the UAE; and striker Jordan Siebatcheu has been poached by Rennes. Talented young coach David Guion will do well to mould a competitive team from what is left.

Considering Amiens were a third-tier club just two years ago and have the league’s smallest budget, finishing 13th in their first ever top-flight campaign was an astonishing achievement. This year looks all the more challenging, having lost talismanic forward Gaël Kakuta and a handful of other first-team players. Nevertheless, their defence remains largely intact and that is where their slimming hopes lie.

Unlike Reims, fellow promoted side and Ligue 2 leading scorers, Nîmes have held on to their key players. Umut Bozok and Rachid Alioui give them a goal threat and they have bolstered their back-line. “The Crocodiles” will be quietly confident of staying up.

Toulouse have lost defender Issa Diop to West Ham and cat-like keeper Alban Lafont to Fiorentina but the additions of Matthieu Dossevi, Manu Garcia, Baptiste Reynet and Max-Alain Gradel (on a permanent deal) should be enough to keep them clear of the bottom three.

Strasbourg will again rely heavily on their raucous home support. Losing dynamic midfielder Jean Eudes Aholou to Monaco and standout forward Martin Terrier to Lyon will be tough to take, but new arrivals Laminé Kone and Stefan Mitrovic will make them more solid at the back. Much rests on whether Ludovic Ajorque can make the step up from Ligue 2, where he scored 14 goals for Clermont last season.

Players to watch

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Giovani Lo Celso in action for PSG against Lille. Photograph: Anthony Dibon/Icon Sport/Getty Images

Giovani Lo Celso, PSG

The former Rosario midfielder’s guile caught the eye last term as Unai Emery successfully eased him in to the first team, the 22 year old’s vision and creativity could prove crucial to Thomas Tuchel. A poor display at the Bernabeu now behind him.

Aleksandr Golovin, Monaco

After a handful of superb displays for Russia at the World Cup, Golovin is Monaco’s headline addition this summer. With João Moutinho and Fabinho sold, much of the creative responsibility will fall to him.

Houssem Aouar, Lyon

Aouar is Ligue 1’s next superstar. He effortlessly glides around the pitch like Andrés Iniesta, gracefully picking defence-splitting passes. Having been moved around positionally last season, hopefully he will be left to settle and develop in his favoured central role.

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Bouna Sarr, Marseille

Rudi Garcia’s decision to convert Sarr from a winger to right-back last year proved very astute. His all-action style is a key weapon for Marseille and he can defend too. He is now first choice and is close to France call-up.

Ismaïla Sarr, Rennes

The 20-year-old Senegal international is fast, unashamedly direct and prodigiously skilful. If he can add a consistent stream of goals, he may not be around for long.

Jules Koundé, Bordeaux

Bordeaux’s defence proved alarmingly porous last winter, but they were unexpectedly transformed by this talented 19-year-old centre-back. He kept more experienced players out of the side and his calm, intelligent and physical presence will be pivotal for Gus Poyet again.

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