Football Trips France 2024/2025: more than just the „Le Classique“

First the Olympics, then Ligue 1! The Olympic football tournament for Paris 2024 was played in seven stadiums in France from July 24 to August 10. This included the (current) home of Paris Saint-Germain and the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard of returning former record champions AS Saint Etienne. Die-Fussballreise.de looks at highlights in the Ligue 1 schedule for the 2024/2025 season. 

Paris St.-Germain is still looking for the new superstar. After Kylian Mbappé's move to Real Madrid, Ligue 1 experts like Laurent Maltret (Kicker) saw "the alternatives as lackluster" – referring to the Nigerian Victor Osimhen from SSC Napoli, who was the focus of Paris's transfer activities. The striker had scored 26 goals in 2022/2023 for Napoli's first championship since 1990 and the golden Maradona era, but the following year he could only manage 15 goals. 

At the release of the Ligue 1 schedule for 2024/2025, Osimhen was not yet a PSG player. 

Kylian Mbappé is Paris's record scorer with 256 goals in just 305 appearances. With a market value of over 200 million euros, he was considered the absolute superstar of Ligue 1. His departure hurts the Qatar-funded French capital club more than they would like to admit. 

Year One after Mbappé

But: Ligue 1 is worth it even without Kylian Mbappé. 

Familiar faces from the English Premier League and the Bundesliga like Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg from Tottenham Hotspur, who joined Olympique Marseille in the summer like Mason Greenwood (Manchester United), or former Dortmund player Thomas Meunier, who now plays for OSC Lille, keep Ligue 1 attractive.

And of course them: "Les Verts", the Greens of AS Saint-Etienne. The dethroned French record champions from Paris are back in Ligue 1 – and start with a tough away game at AS Monaco on the first matchday (August 18, 2024). 

Also new to the league: the legendary club AJ Auxerre and SCO Angers.

Auxerre, the talent factory from Burgundy, has produced a number of stars, including Laurent Blanc ("Le President"), Eric Cantona, Djibril Cissé, Enzo Scifo, Frank Verlaat, and Stephan Guivarc’h. Coach Guy Roux shaped the club from 1963 to 2000 – and crowned his unique era with the double in 1996. 

At the Stade Abbé-Deschamps, AJ Auxerre hosts OGC Nice on the first matchday. Angers SCO hosts the 2023 runners-up, RC Lens. According to Transfermarkt.de, the West French team has the lowest squad value of all 18 teams at 26.05 million euros. 

How do Paris, OM, and Lyon start the 2024/2025 Ligue 1 season? 

Champions and Coupe de France winners PSG start the new season away at AC Le Havre. Arch-rival Olympique Marseille travels to start at Stade Brest. Olympique Lyon starts at Stade Rennes.

When is "Le Classique", PSG vs. Olympique Marseille?

"Le Classique", the French classic between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Marseille, captivates fans nationwide. On matchday 9, the first leg takes place at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille (October 27, 2024), and Paris hosts on March 16, 2025 (matchday 26). 

When do Olympique Lyon and AS Saint-Etienne meet in the derby?

The "Derby du Rhone" with "OL" and ASSE is one of the most traditional local duels in France and will be replayed after the return of AS Saint-Etienne on matchday 11 (November 10, 2024) at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon. The return match in Saint-Etienne is scheduled for matchday 30 around April 20, 2025.

When does "OL" play "OM" – Lyon vs. Marseille?

Olympique Lyon and Marseille are among the most renowned teams in Ligue 1, combining (as of 2024) for a total of 16 French championships, nine of which were won by Marseille. Lyon was champion continuously from 2002 to 2008 and was dethroned in 2009 by the now relegated and bankrupt Girondins Bordeaux. "OL" vs. "OM" takes place first on September 22, 2024, on matchday 5, and again on February 2, 2025 (matchday 20). 

When does the 2024/2025 season end?

The 34th and final matchday is on Sunday, May 18, 2025. Then among others are the matches Olympique Marseille vs. Stade Rennes, PSG vs. AJ Auxerre and Lyon vs. SCO Angers.