The 2025/26 Ligue 1 title race was a lot closer than many would have predicted last season, with PSG being pushed all the way by an unlikely challenger in Lens.

The Parisians managed to win the title by just six points, when they usually have the title wrapped up significantly earlier because of a much larger point margin.

Of course, the title going to Luis Enrique’s side is never a surprise. Since the 2012/13 season, they’ve won the league 12 times.

There have been only two campaigns since then when they haven’t claimed the top honour in French soccer.

The league gets underway in the early hours of August 22 (AEST), with a clash between Marseille and Strasbourg.

Quick Picks

Our pick: PSG to win

Value bet: Marseille in the each-way

Long shot: Monaco in the each-way

Betting Preview

It’s no surprise to see PSG as the big favourites to lift the Ligue 1 title again.

Ferran Torres, Maghnes Akliouche, and Mika Godts have all arrived as reinforcements to an attack which is already the envy of most world sides – Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Lucas Digne has been added to the defence, while much of the squad remains the same, as only Goncalo Ramos and Kang-in Lee have departed from the senior team.

With such quality, it’s always difficult to see who can challenge them, although the odds see Marseille as the most likely.

They are a club going through a turbulent time off the pitch, despite having appointed Bruno Genesio as manager from Lille.

Problems seem to be arising regarding player transfers and captaincy, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg at the centre of things.

The midfielder refused to leave the club after a transfer bid from Newcastle, who wanted Hojbjerg as a replacement for now Arsenal player Bruno Guimaraes, leading to the board demanding he be stripped of the captain’s armband.

Players have arrived, but many have departed, including Mason Greenwood.

Betting Markets to Watch

With PSG always likely to be the favourite to win Ligue 1, the market excluding them offers better value.

Other than Marseille, Monaco and Lens are considered the most likely to finish second.

Monaco have signed Ansu Fati permanently and have brought in forward Matthis Abline from FC Nantes to bolster their attacking lineup. He scored six goals and had four assists in Ligue 1 last season as Nantes were relegated.

Monaco have appointed Felipe Luis to lead them, but he’ll be without Akliouche (PSG), Aladji Bamba (Newcastle), and Caio Henrique (Ajax).

Lens were a surprise package last season and have already won the French Super Cup, beating PSG 1-0 thanks to a 32nd minute Florian Thauvin goal.

That was the perfect start to Dino Toppmöller's managerial reign, after Pierre Sage left the club for Crystal Palace.

Lens have added to their squad modestly, but have lost many players from last season’s efforts, including Mamadou Sangaré (Brentford) and Facundo Medina (Marseille).

Our Prediction

Check the latest Ligue 1 outright betting odds at Sportsbet.

PSG are the likely Ligue 1 winners.

Looking at the market excluding PSG, Marseille appear to be the most likely to have value.

A long shot is Monaco . They may look harder to trust after Akliouche’s departure, but in a league that has had a lot of movement this window, they appear to be the strongest of the chasing pack.