Ligue 1: Key points for matchday 18, PSG v Lille in big clash | OneFootball

On Matchday 18 of Ligue 1 2025-2026, Paris Saint-Germain faces Lille at the Parc des Princes this Friday at 9 PM. An eagerly awaited match that could help secure the top two spots for the rest of the season.

The standings:

The matches:

Ligue 1 returns after a weekend of Coupe de France action and it’s kicking off with a bang. PSG (2nd) hosts Lille (4th) to put pressure on Lens (1st). A great clash both in terms of gameplay and standings. There’s the title race, but also the battle for European spots. If the Parisians win, the last step of the podium could seem very far away for the top two.

Especially since Lens will clearly be favorites against Auxerre (17th). That doesn’t guarantee anything, but a Lens victory seems likely. Meanwhile, OM (3rd), a bit inconsistent, needs to be wary of their trip to Angers (10th). Angers often show certain qualities in their play and can cause trouble for just about anyone.

Before all that, Monaco (9th) absolutely needs to bounce back against Lorient (12th) to keep real hopes for Europe alive. Or even to avoid the worry of a relegation battle. In that sense, Lorient will want to confirm their good run of form.

Strasbourg (7th) is under the same pressure as Monaco after a terrible run and a coaching change (linked to the Chelsea situation), while Metz (18th) isn’t giving up. There’s reason to hope for a win against the bottom team, but they should still be cautious.

As for OL (5th) and Rennes (6th), who are both on the rise, nothing will be easy against Brest (11th) and Le Havre (13th). But they seem to have the tools to win, especially since they’ve managed to turn things in their favor lately.

Finally, we’ll be keeping an eye on the crucial relegation battle between Nantes and Paris FC. Nantes beat OM in the last round, but there’s still a lack of certainty in their performances.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.