PSG will kick off the defence of their Ligue 1 crown with a trip to Nantes on Sunday night.
Paris Saint-Germain begin their title defence at the Stade de la Beaujoire, aiming to build on last season’s domestic dominance and a dramatic Super Cup triumph just days ago. The Parisians lifted four trophies in 2024/25, and while they may not have had an ideal pre-season, largely due to Club World Cup participation, they ave already showcased their mentality, clawing back from 2-0 down to beat Tottenham Hotspur on penalties in midweek.
Luis Enrique’s squad, though short on rest and rhythm, remains loaded with quality. The objective this season is clear: another clean sweep of domestic trophies and a renewed push for Champions League glory. In Ligue 1, they were nearly untouchable last term, finishing 19 points clear at the top, dropping points only after sealing the title early.
Yet, Nantes were one of the few teams to trouble PSG last season, holding them to two hard-fought 1-1 draws, one of which came at the Beaujoire, where they have historically struggled against the Parisian giants but proved stubborn last spring. Still, PSG have won 10 of their last 13 visits to Nantes and remain unbeaten in this fixture since 2006.
New Nantes boss Luis Castro is tasked with rebuilding belief at a club that has narrowly escaped relegation for two straight seasons. The Canaries have not won their opening Ligue 1 fixture in eight years, and the weight of expectation could rest heavy. However, they have shown resilience in past encounters and will take confidence from their recent results against the champions.
The spotlight, naturally, will be on PSG’s front line, with Kylian Mbappe gone and new leaders since then proving to be capable successors. Nantes will need to stay compact, disciplined, and clinical if they are to make the most of PSG’s possible early-season vulnerability. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
FC Nantes
FC Nantes come into this season opener with a few notable absentees and a reshaped squad under new manager Luis Castro. Most prominently, Matthis Abline, their top scorer from last season with 11 goals, is not expected to feature. The young striker was omitted from the club’s final pre-season friendly amid strong speculation that he is on his way out of the club, with multiple suitors circling for his signature.
Another blow for the Canaries is the absence of Mayckel Lahdo, the newly signed Swedish winger from AZ Alkmaar. Lahdo, brought in on loan, is currently nursing a thigh injury and is likely to miss the clash against PSG. His setback denies Nantes a fresh attacking option in a fixture where they will need every ounce of quality. Meanwhile, other summer departures like Douglas Augusto, Nathan Zeze, and Jean-Charles Castelletto have been offset by nine new arrivals, as the club reinvested a large portion of the £30 million brought in from sales.
Nantes are expected to line up in a 4-5-1 formation, seeking to crowd the midfield and limit PSG’s control in the central areas. The likely starting goalkeeper is Anthony Lopes, who impressed during pre-season.
In defence, Kelvin Amian will start at right-back, with Chidozie Awaziem and new signing Uros Radakovic forming the central defensive partnership. At left-back, Nicolas Cozza is set to feature following his return to Ligue 1. This back four will have a busy evening containing PSG’s fluid and dynamic attack.
The midfield five will offer both defensive coverage and creative potential. Wide roles are expected to be occupied by Kwon Hyeok-kyu on the right and Louis Leroux on the left, while the central midfield will likely include Hong Hyun-seok, Johann Lepenant, and Yassine Benhattab, with Benhattab pushing slightly further forward in transitions.
Leading the line on his own will be Egyptian striker Mostafa Mohamed, tasked with holding up play and offering a threat on the counter-attack. Nantes will likely defend in a low to mid block, depending on the game state, and look to exploit space behind PSG’s high line with long balls or quick breaks down the flanks.
Probable Lineup (4-5-1): Lopes; Amian, Awaziem, Radakovic, Cozza; Kwon, Hong, Lepenant, Benhattab, Leroux; Mohamed
PSG
Paris Saint-Germain will be without Joao Neves for their Ligue 1 opener, as the Portuguese midfielder continues to serve a two-match suspension following his red card in the Club World Cup final last month. FIFA imposed the ban after his reckless challenge late in the game, ruling him out of the Super Cup clash with Tottenham and this weekend’s fixture against Nantes.
Elsewhere, Lucas Hernandez remains sidelined with a long-term knee injury, while Presnel Kimpembe is still in the final stages of recovery following his Achilles tendon rupture. Neither defender is expected to feature until later this year.
Goalkeeping veteran Gianluigi Donnarumma has not been involved in first-team affairs amid reports of a transfer and was absent in midweek as well, leaving new signing Lucas Chevalier, who joined from Lille, to deputise between the posts. Chevalier made his debut in the penalty shootout win over Spurs and looks set to be trusted again by manager Luis Enrique.
In terms of midfield selection, Warren Zaire-Emery and Bradley Barcola started the Super Cup match but were largely ineffective. Their underwhelming displays prompted Enrique to introduce Lee Kang-in and Fabian Ruiz, both of whom changed the tempo of the game and are now expected to be included in the starting XI.
Enrique is not one to hesitate with tactical rotations, especially early in the season when fitness levels vary. Paris Saint-Germain are expected to set up in their familiar 4-3-3 formation, combining width, technical precision, and verticality under Luis Enrique’s philosophy.
In goal, Lucas Chevalier will start, hoping to solidify his place as PSG’s new No. 1. The back four will feature Achraf Hakimi at right-back and Nuno Mendes on the left, both of whom will be given license to bomb forward and stretch Nantes’ defensive shape. In central defence, captain Marquinhos will be partnered by the versatile Willian Pacho, who joined this summer from Eintracht Frankfurt.
The midfield trio will consist of Vitinha in a slightly deeper role, anchoring the play with composure and ball retention. Flanking him will be Lee Kang-in, who offers dynamism and creativity on the right, and Fabian Ruiz, providing balance and progression on the left.
This combination is likely to give PSG more fluidity and control in possession, especially in transitions. Leading the line will be Ousmane Dembele with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue on the flanks.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Chevalier; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Lee, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia
Key Stats
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PSG have beaten Nantes more times away than any other Ligue 1 club, winning 17 of 47 matches.
- Nantes have conceded in each of their last 28 Ligue 1 matches against PSG. Their last clean sheet vs PSG came way back in February 2006 (0-0).
- Nantes have not won any of their last 8 season openers in Ligue 1 (D4 L4). Their last win on opening day came in August 2016 against Dijon (1-0).
- In the last 20 Ligue 1 seasons, the defending champions have only lost two opening matches (W12 D6 L2). Those two defeats were Marseille vs Caen (2010) and PSG at Lens (2020).
- PSG have lost just one of their last 41 Ligue 1 away matches (W31 D9). That lone defeat was at Strasbourg in last May (1-2).
Player to Watch
Desire Doue
After a subdued outing in the Super Cup clash against Tottenham Hotspur, Desire Doue enters this Ligue 1 opener with a point to prove. The 19-year-old attacking midfielder, known for his dribbling flair and creativity in tight spaces, struggled to leave his mark against Spurs’ high-pressing midfield and physical defenders.
However, Doue remains one of PSG’s most exciting prospects, capable of breaking lines and unlocking stubborn defenses with his quick feet and intelligent movement. His ability to play on either wing or as an advanced playmaker gives Luis Enrique tactical flexibility, and his hunger to bounce back could see him heavily involved in this match.
Against a Nantes side that will likely sit deep and defend in numbers, Doue’s agility, low centre of gravity, and close control in the final third could be key. Expect him to exploit pockets of space between the lines, combine with Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and look to provide that spark PSG were missing in their Super Cup defeat.
This game offers Doue the perfect platform to silence critics and start the domestic campaign with purpose.
Prediction
FC Nantes 1-3 PSG
Despite Nantes’s recent success in frustrating PSG, the sheer disparity in quality and squad depth will likely tell over the 90 minutes. Luis Enrique’s side showed their fighting spirit in the Super Cup and will be desperate to start the league strong, especially with the scrutiny of a new post-Mbappe era.
Expect Nantes to put up a decent fight early on, but PSG’s individual brilliance and superior depth should pull them clear by the final whistle. The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 3-1 victory for Luis Enrique and his charges.
