PSG heavily favoured to win sixth successive Ligue 1 title
Paris Saint-Germain remains the team to beat in Ligue 1, with back-to-back Champions League triumphs bolstered by an influx of new arrivals this season. The team's opening match against Stade Rennais this Sunday has been moved to Rennes after their Parc de Prince pitch was deemed unsafe to play on after weeks of sweltering heat in Paris.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are considered the overwhelming favorites to secure their sixth consecutive Ligue 1 title. The French football champions have been bolstered by recent signings, including Spain's Ferran Torres, who scored the only goal in the recent World Cup final. Coach Luis Enrique praised Torres as an international-level player who can play anywhere in attack with a great mentality.
PSG has also brought in Maghnes Akliouche, Lucas Digne, and Belgian Mika Ghots, all of whom were part of the French national team at the recent World Cup. The club's Qatari-backed resources have allowed them to consistently attract talent, setting the stage for their pursuit of 15 French championships and their sixth in a row.
However, a rare defeat against Racing Lens in the recent Trophée des Champions allows other teams to dream of challenging their dominance. Lens finished six points behind PSG last season and won the French Cup, despite losing their coach Pierre Sage to Crystal Palace. Dino Toppmöller, a German coach, has made a strong start in the season opener.
Lille, who finished third last season and qualify directly for the Champions League group phase, have a new coach in 36-year-old Davide Ancelotti. Monaco, who finished seventh last season, have new coach Filipe Luis and have offloaded Paul Pogba. Olympique de Marseille, who were runners-up twice to PSG in the last five campaigns, are in a rebuilding phase under Bruno Genesio, with no chance of being genuine contenders in the current season.
The 2010 champions, Marseille will open their league campaign at home to Racing Strasbourg, which has been moved to Rennes due to the poor state of the pitch at the Parc des Princes. Troyes and Le Mans have joined the league as new promotions, replacing Nantes and Metz. Nice secured their top-flight status by winning a two-leg playoff against Saint-Étienne in early May.
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- PSG heavily fancied to win sixth successive Ligue 1 title freemalaysiatoday.com
- PSG heavily fancied to win sixth successive Ligue 1 title channelnewsasia.com