The 2025/26 Ligue 1 season kicks off with a heavyweight clash as Nantes host defending champions Paris Saint-Germain at the Stade de la Beaujoire on Sunday, 17 August.
PSG arrive fresh from lifting the UEFA Super Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Tottenham, adding to their domestic dominance.
Aiming for a record fifth consecutive Ligue 1 crown, Luis Enrique’s men are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 system, with new goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier set for his debut behind a backline of Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, and Nuno Mendes.
PSG’s on their official X handle shared their first starting XI of the season:
PSG also posted on their official X handle that the French Champions will don their red third away kit for the league opener.
Watch the video below:
For Nantes, this is the start of a new era under manager Luís Castro, who took over after the club’s 13th-place finish last season. The Portuguese tactician has already made key signings, bringing in Hong Hyun-seok from Mainz and Nigerian defender Chidozie Awaziem from Colorado Rapids.
However, uncertainty surrounds striker Matthis Abline, who netted 11 goals last campaign but missed their recent 3-2 friendly loss to Paris FC.
Nantes on their official X handle shared their official starting XI :
History strongly favours PSG in this fixture. Softfootball reports that the champions boast 28 wins from 35 meetings with Nantes, losing just three.
Nantes are winless in their last seven encounters with PSG (D2, L5), though they did manage a pair of 1-1 draws last season. PSG have also scored in each of their last 28 Ligue 1 meetings with Nantes, dating back to February 2006.
Nantes’ hopes may rest on Egyptian forward Mostafa Mohamed, who has scored his last seven goals after the interval. Meanwhile, PSG’s firepower makes them favourites, but their defensive lapses (no clean sheet in the last 10 matches when Dembélé has scored) could offer the hosts a glimmer of hope.
With Nantes winless in their last eight Ligue 1 openers (D4, L4) and PSG losing just once in their last 41 away league matches, the odds lean heavily toward the champions making a strong statement on opening day.
