| Date | R | Home v Away | - |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08/20 15:00 | 3 |
[6] Monaco v Lens
[7] 
|
1-4 |
| 08/19 19:00 | 3 |
[7] Lyon v Troyes
[19] 
|
4-1 |
| 08/14 18:45 | 2 |
[17] Brest v Marseille
[6] 
|
1-1 |
| 08/14 15:05 | 2 |
[10] Nice v Strasbourg
[17] 
|
1-1 |
| 08/14 13:00 | 2 |
[14] Troyes v Toulouse
[11] 
|
0-3 |
| 08/14 13:00 | 2 |
[19] Reims v Clermont Foot
[20] 
|
2-4 |
| 08/14 13:00 | 2 |
[18] Auxerre v Angers
[12] 
|
2-2 |
| 08/14 13:00 | 2 |
[16] AC Ajaccio v Lens
[5]
|
0-0 |
| 08/14 11:00 | 2 |
Lorient v Lyon
|
Postponed |
| 08/13 19:00 | 2 |
[3] PSG v Montpellier
[5] 
|
5-2 |
| 08/13 15:00 | 2 |
[6] Monaco v Rennes
[17] 
|
1-1 |
| 08/12 19:00 | 2 |
[12] Nantes v Lille
[2] 
|
1-1 |
| 08/07 18:45 | 1 |
[12] Marseille v Reims
[13]
|
4-1 |
| 08/07 15:05 | 1 |
[17] Rennes v Lorient
[9]
|
0-1 |
| 08/07 13:00 | 1 |
[5] Angers v Nantes
[8]
|
0-0 |
| 08/07 13:00 | 1 |
[13] Lens v Brest
[14]
|
3-2 |
| 08/07 13:00 | 1 |
[10] Montpellier v Troyes
[6]
|
3-2 |
| 08/07 13:00 | 1 |
[9] Lille v Auxerre
[4]
|
4-1 |
| 08/07 11:00 | 1 |
[17] Toulouse v Nice
[11]
|
1-1 |
| 08/06 19:00 | 1 |
[5] Clermont Foot v PSG
[13]
|
0-5 |
| 08/06 15:00 | 1 |
[18] Strasbourg v Monaco
[4]
|
1-2 |
| 08/05 19:00 | 1 |
[12] Lyon v AC Ajaccio
[1]
|
2-1 |
| 05/21 19:00 | 38 |
[10] Lille v Rennes
[4]
|
2-2 |
| 05/21 19:00 | 38 |
[7] Lens v Monaco
[2]
|
2-2 |
| 05/21 19:00 | 38 |
[12] Reims v Nice
[6]
|
2-3 |
| 05/21 19:00 | 38 |
[1] PSG v Metz
[18] 
|
5-0 |
| 05/21 19:00 | 38 |
[16] Clermont Foot v Lyon
[8]
|
1-2 |
| 05/21 19:00 | 38 |
[11] Brest v Bordeaux
[20] 
|
2-4 |
| 05/21 19:00 | 38 |
[9] Nantes v St Etienne
[19] 
|
1-1 |
| 05/21 19:00 | 38 |
[3] Marseille v Strasbourg
[5]
|
4-0 |
Caen
Guingamp
Dijon
SC Bastia
Amiens
Nimes
Le Havre
Nancy
Ajaccio GFCA
Wikipedia - Ligue 1
Ligue 1 (a.k.a. League 1), officially known as Ligue 1 McDonald's for sponsorship purposes, is the top-level association football league in France located at the top of the French football league system. Administered by the Ligue de Football Professionnel, Ligue 1 is contested by 18 clubs (as of the 2023–24 season) and operates on a system of promotion and relegation from and to Ligue 2.
Seasons run from August to May. Clubs play two matches against each of the other teams in the league – one home and one away – totalling to 34 matches over the course of the season. Most games are played on Saturdays and Sundays, with a few games played during weekday evenings. Play is regularly suspended the last weekend before Christmas for two weeks before returning in the second week of January. As of 2024, Ligue 1 is considered one of the top national leagues, ranked fifth in Europe, behind England's Premier League, Spain's La Liga, Italy's Serie A and Germany's Bundesliga.
Ligue 1 was inaugurated on 11 September 1932 under the name National before switching to Division 1 after a year of existence. It continued to operate under that name until 2002, when it adopted its current name. Paris Saint-Germain are the most successful club with twelve league titles, while Lyon is the club that has won the most consecutive titles (seven between 2002 and 2008). Saint-Étienne was the first club with ten titles. With the presence of 73 seasons in Ligue 1, Marseille holds the record for most seasons among the elite, while Paris Saint-Germain hold the league record for longevity with 50 consecutive seasons (from 1974 to present). Nantes is the team with the longest consecutive unbeaten streak (32 matches) and the fewest number of defeats (one match) in a single season, doing so in the 1994–95 campaign. In addition, Nantes also holds the record for the longest time without losing at home with a run of 92 matches from May 1976 to April 1981.
The current champions are Paris Saint-Germain, who won a record twelfth title in the 2023–24 season. The league has been won on multiple occasions by foreign-based club Monaco, the presence of which within the league makes it a cross-border competition.
Ahead of the 2023–24 season, the number of teams in the league was reduced to 18; four teams in the 2022–23 Ligue 1 were relegated to Ligue 2 and only two teams in Ligue 2 were promoted to Ligue 1.
History
Foundation
Professionalism in French football did not exist until July 1930, when the National Council of the French Football Federation voted 128–20 in favour of its adoption. The founders of professionalism in French football are Georges Bayrou, Emmanuel Gambardella, and Gabriel Hanot. Professionalism was officially implemented in 1932.
In order to successfully create a professional football league in the country, the Federation limited the league to twenty clubs. In order to participate in the competition, clubs were subjected to three important criteria:
- The incoming club must have had positive results in the past.
- The incoming club must be able to pull in enough revenue to balance its finances.
- The incoming club must be able to successfully recruit at least eight professional players.
Many clubs disagreed with the subjective criteria, most notably Strasbourg, RC Roubaix, Amiens and Stade Français, while others like Rennes, due to fear of bankruptcy, and Lille, due to a conflict of interest, were reluctant to become professional. Lille's president, Henri Jooris, also chairman of the Ligue du Nord, feared his league would fold and proposed it become the second division of the new league. Eventually, many clubs earned professional status, though it became more difficult to convince clubs in the northern half of the country; Strasbourg, Roubaix and Amiens refused to accept the new league, while conversely Mulhouse, Excelsior AC Roubaix, Metz and Fives accepted professionalism. In southern France, clubs such as Marseille, Hyères, Montpellier, Nîmes, Cannes, Antibes and Nice were extremely supportive of the new league and accepted their professional status without argument.
Establishment
| Season | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1932–33 | Olympique Lillois |
| 1933–34 | Sète |
| 1934–35 | Sochaux |
| 1935–36 | Racing Club de France |
| 1936–37 | Marseille |
| 1937–38 | Sochaux |
| 1938–39 | Sète |
The league's inaugural season of the all-professional league, called National, was held in 1932–1933. The 20 inaugural members of National were Antibes, CA Paris, Cannes, Club Français, Excelsior AC Roubaix, Fives, Hyères, Marseille, Metz, Mulhouse, Nice, Nîmes, Alès, Lille, Racing Club de France, Red Star Olympique, Rennes, Sochaux, Sète and Montpellier. The 20 clubs were inserted into two groups of 10 with the bottom three of each group suffering relegation to Division 2. The two winners of each group would then face each other in a final held at a neutral venue, which later turned out to the Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir. The first final was held on 14 May 1933 and it matched the winner of Group A, Olympique Lillois, against the runner-up of Group B, Cannes. Antibes, the winner of Group B, was supposed to take part in the final but was suspected of bribery by the French Football Federation and was disqualified. In the first final, Lillois were crowned the inaugural champions following the club's 4–3 victory. After the season, the league decided to retain the 14 clubs and not promote any sides from the second division. The league also agreed to change its name from National to simply Division 1. For the 1934–35 season, the league organised a legitimate promotion and relegation system bringing the total tally of clubs in the first division to 16. The number remained until the 1938–39 season.
Because of World War II, football was suspended by the French government and the Ligue de Football Professionnel, although its member clubs continued playing in regional competitions. During the "war championships", as they are called, professionalism was abolished by the Vichy regime and clubs were forced to participate in regional leagues, designated as Zone Sud and Zone Nord. Due to its non-association with the two leagues, the LFP and FFF do not recognise the championships won by the clubs and thus 1939–1945 is non-existent in the two organisations' view. Following the conclusion of the war and the liberation of France, professional football returned to France. The first division increased its allotment of clubs to 18. This number remained until the 1965–66 season when the number was increased to 20. In 2002, the league changed its name from Division 1 to Ligue 1.
Ligue 1, officially known as Ligue 1 Uber Eats for sponsorship reasons, is the premier professional football league in France. Established in 1933, it is one of the top national leagues in Europe and is recognized for its competitive nature, rich history, and the development of world-class talent. The league features 20 teams that compete annually for the coveted title, with each club playing 38 matches in a round-robin format.
**Format and Structure**
The season typically runs from August to May, with each team playing every other team twice—once at home and once away. Points are awarded based on match results: three points for a win, one point for a draw, and none for a loss. At the end of the season, the team with the most points is crowned the champion of Ligue 1. The bottom teams face relegation to Ligue 2, while the top teams may qualify for prestigious European competitions such as the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League.
**Clubs and Rivalries**
Ligue 1 is home to some of the most storied clubs in football history, including Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Olympique de Marseille, and AS Monaco. PSG, in particular, has dominated the league in recent years, bolstered by significant investment and a roster filled with international stars. The league is also known for its passionate rivalries, with matches like Le Classique (PSG vs. Marseille) drawing intense attention from fans and media alike.
**Talent Development**
Ligue 1 is renowned for its ability to nurture young talent, often serving as a stepping stone for players who go on to achieve success in larger leagues around the world. Clubs invest heavily in youth academies, and many of the league's stars have emerged from these systems, contributing to the league's reputation as a breeding ground for future footballing legends.
**Cultural Impact**
Beyond the pitch, Ligue 1 plays a significant role in French culture and society. Matches are celebrated events, drawing fans from diverse backgrounds and fostering a sense of community. The league's influence extends to fashion, music, and lifestyle, making it an integral part of the French identity.
**Conclusion**
Ligue 1 is more than just a football league; it is a vibrant tapestry of competition, culture, and passion. With its blend of historic clubs, emerging talents, and thrilling matches, Ligue 1 continues to captivate fans both in France and around the globe, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of European football.