On Matchday 23 of the 2025-2026 Ligue 1 season, Paris Saint-Germain faces Metz at the Parc des Princes this Sunday at 9:05 PM CET. A must-win match in this exciting race.
Standings:
Matches:
PSG (2nd) must aim for victory against Metz (18th), that much is clear. The Champions League is looming, with the playoffs against AS Monaco, but that won’t be an excuse. PSG has a strong squad. And their opponent is once again in crisis. They need to be fully focused to avoid an unpleasant surprise.
Especially since Lens (1st) is in a relatively good position against Monaco (8th). This is partly because Monaco often struggles in away matches. Also, because they are also in the Champions League playoffs and might lack the energy to overcome a confident Lens side.
Lille (5th) is also a European contender who must manage their away match against Angers (11th) in the Europa League playoff against Red Star Belgrade. This is all the more delicate for the 5th-placed team, who are struggling to get back on track in 2026 and are seeing their rivals take advantage.
Among them is Olympique Lyonnais, now 3rd with a comfortable lead, and who have already qualified for the Europa League round of 16. OL faces a difficult away match against Strasbourg (7th), who are also in the round of 16, but in the Europa Conference League. These are matches that could also benefit Lens, who have repeatedly stated that they are currently aiming for European qualification rather than the league title.
It will also be important to watch the reaction of Olympique de Marseille (4th), currently in turmoil, with a change of coach and sporting director, in Brest, a 12th-placed team that can cause problems for everyone. Especially at home. Rennes (6th) has also recently decided to make changes and distinguished itself with a victory against PSG last weekend; they need to be wary of the crucial match that followed. Auxerre (16th) got back on track with a win in Metz and intends to fight for survival until the very end. They have quality in their play and the clinical finishing to get forward.
This is less the case for FC Nantes, 17th, who seem destined for Ligue 2. They will need some big upsets to avoid relegation. Perhaps against Le Havre, 13th, who lack consistency but just beat Toulouse. The 10th-placed team needs to get back to winning ways to stay in contention for a possible European spot. It will be a very difficult away match for Paris FC, while the 15th-placed team desperately needs to regain its confidence. Nice (14th) also needs to do so. We will have to find the right formula against a Lorient (9th) team full of carefree enthusiasm, with perhaps a small European dream taking shape.
