Saturday's Ligue 1 predictions and previews including Lens vs. Auxerre

Today's Ligue 1 predictions see a clash betwixt Lens and Auxerre, and a travel to Toulouse for Lyon.

Lens vs. Auxerre (Saturday, 4.15pm)

RC Lens welcome AJ Auxerre to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis connected Saturday day for the opening play of the 2026-27 Ligue 1 season.

In their erstwhile outing, Les Sang et Or claimed a 1-0 triumph implicit Paris Saint-Germain to assistance the French Super Cup, portion Les Bleus et Blancs rounded disconnected their pre-season fixtures by beating Werder Bremen successful north-Germany.

We say: Lens 3-1 Auxerre

Entering the play successful good form, Lens volition beryllium assured of getting their Ligue 1 run underway with triumph astatine the Stade de l’Abbe-Deschamps connected Saturday afternoon. 

Although Auxerre person enjoyed a affirmative pre-season and precocious claimed triumph connected their travels to Les Sang et Or, we deliberation it is hard to spot them getting a effect connected the opening weekend.

> Click present to work our afloat preview for Lens vs. Auxerre, including squad quality and predicted lineups

Le Mans vs. Brest (Saturday, 7.45pm)

For the archetypal clip successful implicit 15 years, Le Mans are in Ligue 1 and volition unfastened the caller run connected Saturday astatine location to Brest at Stade Marie-Marvingt.

A second-place decorativeness successful Ligue 2 past play lifted Les Mucistes into this competition, portion Stade Brestois are backmost for an eighth successive apical formation campaign, aft ending past play successful 12th.

We say: Le Mans 1-1 Brest

This whitethorn beryllium caller territory for Le Mans, but they person immoderate notable acquisition and equilibrium that should assistance them gain a constituent successful their opener.

> Click present to work our afloat preview for Le Mans vs. Brest, including squad quality and predicted lineups

Troyes vs. Paris FC (Saturday, 7.45pm)

Playing successful their first Ligue 1 match since 2023, Troyes will host Paris FC on Saturday astatine Stade de l’Aube successful the Grand Est portion of France.

ESTAC returned to the apical formation aft finishing archetypal successful Ligue 2 past season, portion Paris were 11th successful Ligue 1 implicit the past campaign.

We say: Troyes 0-2 Paris FC

Paris FC did a nice occupation replenishing their squad with proven, experienced attacking talent, and that should service them good against a broadside similar Troyes, anxious to beryllium a point, but who mightiness request immoderate clip to set to top-flight football.

> Click present to work our afloat preview for Troyes vs. Paris FC, including squad quality and predicted lineups

Toulouse vs. Lyon (Saturday, 7.45pm)

Toulouse begin a caller managerial epoch against a Lyon side already respective matches into their play erstwhile the 2 teams conscionable astatine the Stadium de Toulouse connected Saturday evening for the opening play of the 2026-27 Ligue 1 campaign.

Jens Berthel Askou takes complaint of his archetypal competitory crippled successful France aft replacing Carles Martinez Novell, while Paulo Fonseca's visitors get connected the backmost of a Champions League playoff archetypal leg, having drawn distant astatine Fenerbahce successful midweek.

We say: Toulouse 1-2 Lyon

Toulouse's summertime upheaval and missing unit marque this an awkward starting constituent for Askou's tenure, peculiarly against opponents who already person 3 competitory fixtures nether their belts.

However, fixed the hosts' fantabulous caller grounds successful play openers and astatine home, alongside Lyon's imaginable fatigue aft a taxing week successful Turkey, a constrictive borderline feels much apt than a comfy triumph for the visitors.

> Click present to work our afloat preview for Toulouse vs. Lyon, including squad quality and predicted lineups

Nice vs. Lorient (Saturday, 7.45pm)

Two teams who went done precise antithetic 2025-26 seasons volition statesman their new Ligue 1 campaigns connected Saturday as Nice welcome Lorient to Allianz Riviera connected matchday one.

Nice survived relegation past play by defeating Saint-Etienne successful a two-leg playoff, portion Lorient coiled up successful 10th.

We say: Nice 1-0 Lorient

Last play should service arsenic a wake-up telephone for Nice, who played good beneath their capabilities, but with a caller brag and galore players returning from knocks, we expect to spot much determination from them connected matchday one.

> Click present to work our afloat preview for Nice vs. Lorient, including squad quality and predicted lineups