first day of Ligue 1 season kicks off with a thrilling opener

The countdown has begun. While the world still buzzes with World Cup fever, French football fans are already looking ahead to what matters most: the return of Ligue 1. The LFP has just released the fixtures for the championship’s opening weekend, and it starts with a bang—Olympique de Marseille facing Strasbourg at the Vélodrome on Friday, August 21, at 8:45 PM.

An exciting second weekend awaits

Not every club will have a dream start—think Lens versus Auxerre, Havre against Monaco, or Toulouse locking horns with Lyon—but the traditional Sunday night showdown promises to deliver with Paris Saint-Germain taking on Stade Rennais.

The real fireworks come on the second matchday. The slate includes must-watch clashes like Lille versus PSG, Strasbourg versus Lens, and Monaco squaring off against Marseille. After a flawless opening six days on August 30, the fans of the Olympique de Marseille will already be eyeing the title race. Bring on the season!