On Matchday 22 of the 2025-2026 Ligue 1 season, Paris Saint-Germain faces Rennes at Roazhon Park this Sunday at 8:45 PM CET. This is a crucial match, one of many this weekend, before a week of first-leg playoffs in the Champions League (PSG plays Monaco on Tuesday, February 17th) and the Europa League (LOSC will face Red Star Belgrade on Thursday, February 19th).
The standings:
The matches:
The opening match of the league season should be very interesting, between a Rennes side (6th) in the midst of rebuilding following the dismissal of coach Habib Beye and the arrival of his replacement, Franck Haise, and a PSG team that just thrashed Marseille (5-0) and will need to confirm their form to protect first place in the league. All this while thinking, but not too much, about the first leg of the Champions League playoff on Tuesday.
A match that could also occupy Monaco’s minds, yet the 10th-placed team must be wary of FC Nantes (17th), who must give their all to avoid relegation. FC Metz (18th) and Auxerre (16th) face off in a duel that could be very painful for the loser; Nantes must take advantage.
The other big match of the weekend is between OM (4th) and Strasbourg (7th), two attacking teams that desperately need a win to dispel negative thoughts. This fixture could benefit those vying for European qualification.
In particular, Lens (2nd), who travel to face a Paris FC (16th) side far from confident. But, beware, these Parisians have managed to surprise a few times this season. Lille (5th) desperately needs to bounce back, but Brest (12th) is also capable of anything and could well contribute to Lille’s crisis in 2026.
Toulouse (8th), Angers (9th), and Lorient (11th) then have a chance to capitalize on this situation and keep their European dreams alive for next season. For Toulouse, the trip to Le Havre (13th) seems manageable, though not easy. For Angers and Lorient, anything seems possible, but we already know there will be disappointed teams since the two sides are facing each other. At least the pressure of relegation seems to have eased.
