The new Ligue 1 campaign is upon us, and with it comes the annual ritual of prediction season. Get French Football News has pitted editor-in-chief Luke Entwistle against sub-editor Bastien Cheval in a season-long competition, with three points for a correct score, two for a correct score difference, and one for a correct result. The stakes are high, the opinions are split, and the opening weekend is already shaping up to be a fascinating barometer of what lies ahead.
Both men agree on the broader narrative: Paris Saint-Germain remain the overwhelming favourites to lift the title. Liam, writing alongside the duo, argues that with Mika Godts, Ferran Torres, and Lucas Digne expected to feature prominently, Les Parisiens should not only retain the trophy but do so with far more ease than last season. Bastien concurs, though he warns that the chasing pack—particularly Marseille, who open against Strasbourg at the Vélodrome—will be eager to close the gap. The real intrigue, however, lies at the bottom. Liam has tipped Le Mans, fresh off a surprise promotion, to suffer an immediate return to Ligue 2, with Troyes following them down. “Their fairytale ends with a swift demotion,” he says, while also earmarking Angers and Auxerre as potential play-off contenders. Bastien, meanwhile, points to recent history—Reims, Montpellier, and Nantes all relegated in the last two years—as evidence that financial muscle isn’t everything. “Despite City Football Group ownership, I don’t see Troyes sticking around,” he insists, adding that back-to-back promotions might be a step too far for Le Mans. He also harbours doubts about Auxerre, even with Will Still at the helm.
When it comes to Round 1, the two diverge on several key fixtures. For the marquee clash at Roazhon Park, Liam fancies Rennes to edge PSG 2-1, while Bastien sees the Parisians winning 2-1 on the road. At the Vélodrome, Liam predicts a 1-1 draw between Marseille and Strasbourg, but Bastien is more confident in the hosts, backing a 2-0 victory. Both agree on a Lens win over Auxerre (2-0 and 3-0 respectively), and both see Paris FC beating Troyes, though with different scorelines. Le Mans vs Brest sees Liam predict a goalless stalemate, while Bastien opts for a narrow 1-0 Brest win. Nice and Lorient are both tipped for 1-0 home wins, while Toulouse vs Lyon is a 2-1 home win for Liam and a 0-0 for Bastien. Angers vs Lille, Le Havre vs Monaco, and the rest of the card round out a weekend that promises plenty of talking points.
The competition format adds an extra layer of intrigue to every matchday. With three points for an exact scoreline, the margin for error is razor-thin, and a single correct prediction can swing the entire season. As the opening whistle approaches, both journalists have staked their reputations on their reads of a league that has consistently defied expectations. Will PSG cruise to another title, or will the chasing pack finally close the gap? And which of the promoted sides will survive the drop? The answers start on Friday night in Marseille, and the GFFN prediction table will be watching closely.
