Paris St. Germain’s galaxy of stars are expected to dominate Ligue 1 again

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Paris St. Germain’s galaxy of stars are expected to dominate Ligue 1 again
Paris St. Germain kick off their Ligue 1 title defence on Saturday against Clermont
Paris St. Germain kick off their Ligue 1 title defence on Saturday against Clermont
Reuters
A leaner and fitter Lionel Messi (35), a similarly rejuvenated Neymar (30) and Kylian Mbappe (23) staying after signing a new contract make Paris St. Germain runaway favourites to retain their Ligue 1 title when the French league season kicks off on Friday, August 5th.

Last season, the Parisians romped to the title with a 15-point advantage over second-placed Olympique de Marseille despite Messi failing to impress, Neymar and Mbappe being unsettled and Sergio Ramos (36) missing most of the campaign.

But their galaxy of stars look to have turned a corner and have shown a new lustre, evident on a pre-season tour to Japan and in last Sunday’s emphatic 4-0 Super Cup win over Nantes.

It suggests the chasm between PSG and the rest of Ligue 1 could be even bigger this season, despite a change of coach with Mauricio Pochettino (50) replaced by Christophe Galtier (55).

"Once you are at PSG, you have an obligation to achieve results," Gaultier said on his arrival at the club last month.

"I'm very ambitious. I came to Paris to win. There are three domestic trophies: we have to win them. You have to break records. And, in all modesty, I tell you, I came to Paris to win everything."

Galtier was the last coach to break PSG’s hegemony in France when he took Lille to the title two seasons ago but he will have to balance domestic dominance with Paris' Champions League ambitions this season.

PSG begin their campaign at Clermont on Saturday, August 6th, with the first game of the Ligue 1 season on Friday, August 5th, when Olympique Lyonnais host promoted Ajaccio.

THE CHALLENGERS

Lyon’s eighth place last season was their worst since 1996 but Dutch coach Peter Bosz (58) has strengthened his squad with the likes of Alexandre Lacazette (31), back from Arsenal, Bayern Munich's Corentin Tolisso (28) and Nicolas Tagliafico (29) of Ajax Amsterdam.

The club also have a new American owner, John Textor, who has promised supporters: “We want to win titles here. We are going to show up and we are going to spend”.

It significantly improves their chances of being able to challenge with the likes of Marseille, Monaco and Stade Rennes.

Marseille fired volatile coach Jorge Sampaoli (62) and replaced him with former Croatia international Igor Tudor (44) despite their second place finish last season.

Monaco, who were held at home (1:1) on Tuesday by PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie, have boosted their attack with two new signings.

Switzerland's Breel Embolo (25) has arrived from Borussia Moenchengladbach and Japan's Takumi Minamino (27) from Liverpool to assist Wissam Ben Yedder (31) who scored 25 goals last season.

Rennes were fourth last season, scoring 82 league goals, and are expected to repeat that attacking approach in this campaign.

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