Can any team stop another PSG Ligue 1 title win?
When Kylian Mbappé left Paris Saint-Germain last season, it was thought that the time for other Ligue 1 clubs to catch the Parisians had arrived.
Mbappé was the last megastar to leave the Paris-based club after the departures of Lionel Messi and Neymar the previous season.
Neymar, Messi, and Mbappé were among the many star players that PSG had spent heavily signing to stay dominant in the French top flight. Before the trio, the Parisians had spent millions on the likes of Ezequiel Lavezzi, Edinson Cavani, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
However, while those players helped them win 11 of the last 15 Ligue 1 titles, none of those players made them dominate in Europe.
The current crop of players at PSG has broken that jink, though. Not only did they ‘farm’ Ligue 1, they also blew everything out of their path on their way to winning the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history.
They have achieved this with a good number of players who, initially, were not considered a significant threat by many rival fans and those who buy PSG tickets. The likes of Ousmane Dembélé, Fabián Ruiz, Désiré Doué, Vitinha, Bradley Barcola, Nuno Mendes, and João Neves have evolved into world-class operators under Luis Enrique.
Without the presence of a mega star for the first time in a while, PSG under the Spanish manager steamrolled other teams to the Ligue 1 title, winning it by a 19-point margin, while losing just two times.
Initially, it was thought that other teams would be able to capitalise on Mbappé's absence, with the likes of Monaco, Marseille, and even Reims keeping close tabs on PSG at the early stages. Monaco, in particular, did not lose any of their opening six games, with the Principality club matching PSG’s result in that period (W5, D1).
Meanwhile, Marseille, under the Roberto De Zerbi revolution, were also raising hopes, as they lost just one of their opening six games (W5), while scoring 15 times, the second-highest in the league after six games.
However, gradually, as has been the case in previous seasons, PSG pulled away from the rest, establishing a substantial lead that allowed them to win the title without losing a game and with six games to spare. So, the two losses they suffered last season came after the league had been wrapped up.
They went on to win the UEFA Champions League and also reached the FIFA Club World Cup final, playing exceptionally well.
Their success in Europe and at the intercontinental level has raised fears that PSG cannot be caught. If they are trashing top teams in Europe, including Kylian Mbappé’s Real Madrid, and have a strong case of retaining the Champions League title, what happens to the not-so-big teams in Ligue 1?
What will be the fate of the French top flight with this well-oiled PSG team that also sells Champions League tickets?
Can any team stop them? Here are the teams that could pose a real threat to PSG.
AS Monaco
Last season, Monaco were one of the few teams that were thought to be ready to threaten PSG’s Ligue 1 dominance.
The Principality club have a history in the competition, having won it eight times, doing so most recently in the 2016/17 season. They started last season well, winning six of their opening ten games (D2, L2), while conceding the fewest goals.
However, over time, they couldn’t keep up with PSG, and their 1.79 points per game ratio was not enough to topple the winners. But it was enough to give Monaco a third-place finish.
Still, they showed some promise last season. Offensively, they scored 63 goals, ranking 5th in goals per game (1.85), and generated the second-highest expected goals total (approximately 73–75 xG), behind PSG.
They look prepared for next season. Their headline signing of Mika Biereth in January from Sturm Graz for a reported €13 million has been inspirational. The England-born striker was one of the best deals in January, as he scored 13 goals in just 16 league games, including three hat-tricks, becoming the first player since 1956 to record three consecutive home hat-tricks in Ligue 1.
AS Monaco has added even more quality to the squad this summer. They have added veterans Eric Dier and Paul Pogba to their team. At the same time, the signing of former Barcelona star Ansu Fati has also generated considerable excitement among those who purchase AS Monaco tickets.
It remains to be seen whether Adi Hütter will be able to utilise these signings, while much also depends on whether Monaco can retain the services of Maghnes Akliouche. The youngster, who registered ten assists, becoming just the fifth Monaco player since the 2006/07 season to reach double figures for assists in a Ligue 1 season, is attracting interest from several top clubs.
Should Monaco manage to keep him and address the defensive frailties that plagued them last season, they could be the team to topple PSG this season.
Olympique Marseille
Olympique Marseille was seen as a major title contender last season.
There was a lot of excitement among those who bought Marseille tickets that their team could pose a real threat to PSG, given their transfer activities last summer. They brought in highly-rated coach Roberto De Zerbi last summer, accompanied by the signings of Mason Greenwood, Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg, Amine Wahi and Ismaël Koné.
While they eventually didn’t win the league, they finished in a respectable second place, earning direct qualification to the Champions League for the 2025/26 season. Their football last season was often inconsistent, but they showed marked evident progress towards the end. Marseille were the most in-form team towards the end of last season, winning their last four games (D1, L1), while scoring 17 times.
It remains to be seen if they will make even more progress, having signed exciting midfielder Angel Gomes this summer. The imminent return of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could also be a major boost for Marseille, who have won the Ligue 1 title nine times in their history.
LOSC Lille and the outsiders
Like last season, LOSC Lille are considered one of the title outsiders this season. Les Dogues finished in fifth place in the league last season and enjoyed a solid UEFA Champions League campaign.
They could mount a serious title charge this season, too. However, they have a big hole to fill in their squad, having lost their leading goalscorer, Jonathan David, this summer.
OGC Nice are another side to watch out for this season. Franck Haise’s side have been around the periphery of success for a few years now, but this could ultimately be their year. They ended last season well, winning 13 points from their last six games, more than any other team (same as Marseille and Lille).
So if they can build on their last season’s finish, they could be the surprise team to watch this season.
Conclusion
While PSG’s dominance in Ligue 1 has reached frightening new heights—especially after conquering Europe without the help of a superstar like Kylian Mbappé—their invincibility on the domestic front is not guaranteed forever.
Monaco and Marseille, in particular, showed enough promise last season to hint that a power shift could be possible if things fall their way. Monaco’s sharp attack and innovative recruitment, alongside Marseille’s transformation under De Zerbi and summer reinforcements, could make them credible challengers if consistency is achieved. Lille and Nice, too, have the foundations to mount a surprise challenge—though they must find goals and depth to match PSG’s relentless pace.
Ultimately, dethroning this well-drilled, Luis Enrique-led PSG side will require more than just talent. It will take tactical perfection, squad harmony, and unrelenting consistency over 34 games. Until another club finds that winning formula, the French top flight may remain under the firm grip of the Parisians.
However, if there’s one thing football teaches us, it’s that dynasties don’t last forever.
There is no question that rival fans who buy Ligue 1 tickets are desperate for a new French top-flight champion. The real question is: Who will be bold and ready enough to break PSG’s iron hold?