The 2018/2019 Ligue 1 campaign was an entertaining one from start to finish for French football fans, and certainly the upcoming 2019/2010 season will not be any different. There have been some notable signings and departures, with Gianluigi Buffon leaving reigning champs PSG just one year after arriving on a free to go back to Juventus. Veteran defender Dani Alves has also left the Parc des Princes to head back to his native Brazil, where he'll be plying his trade with Sao Paolo, while experienced midfielder Ander Herrera arrives on a free from Manchester United.
Les Parisiens have also spent cash on Everton's Idrissa Gueye and Borussia Dortmund's Abdou Diallo (€30 million and €32 million respectively) in preparation for the upcoming season. Elsewhere, Laurent Koscielny is back in France, this time with Bordeaux after nine years with Arsenal. Monaco managed to survive relegation and hang onto key players like Cesc Fabregas and Radamel Falcao - for now - as they prepare for the upcoming season. Will they have better fortunes this time around?
Here is all the info you need to familiarize yourself with the latest edition of Ligue 1, including where to watch your favorite team and who will be the 20 sides all competing for a chance to be crowned champions of France.
When does Ligue 1 start?
French football's top tier will start with a clash featuring Monaco and Lyon on Friday, August 9th, before the other nine round 1 games are all played on Saturday, August 10th and Sunday, August 11th. PSG will be in action on the 11th against Nîmes.
Which teams are playing in Ligue 1?
- Amiens
- Angers
- Bordeaux
- Brest
- Dijon
- Lille
- Lyon
- Marseille
- Metz
- Monaco
- Montpellier
- Nice
- Nîmes
- PSG
- Reims
- Rennes
- Saint-Étienne
- Strasbourg
- Toulouse
Who are the current champions?
PSG, or Paris Saint-Germain, are the current champions of Ligue 1. Last season saw Thomas Tuchel's side win their eighth Ligue 1 title (and third consecutive) by a 16 point margin over second-placed Lille, and even though star man Neymar has been linked with a move away from the Parc des Princes, Les Parisiens are still the heavy favorites to win the championship at the end of the 2019/2020 Ligue 1 campaign.
Who are the promoted and relegated teams?
Promoted teams: Metz, Brest
Relegated teams: Caen, Guingamp
What are the key fixtures in Ligue 1?
September 24: Monaco vs Nice (Derby de la Côte d'Azur)
October 27: PSG vs Marseille (Le Classique)
November 8: Marseille vs Lyon (Choc des Olympiques/Clash of the Olympics)
November 22: PSG vs Lille (runners-up vs. league winners)
March 6: Nice vs Monaco (Derby de la Côte d'Azur)
March 20: Marseille vs PSG (Le Classique)
April 17: Lyon vs Marseille (Choc des Olympiques/Clash of the Olympics)
What are Ligue 1's broadcasting channels (TV, online streaming, and on-demand)?
USA
TV: beIN Sports USA will provide English-language coverage. For fans who speak Spanish, feel free to check out beIN Sports in Espanol.
Online streaming: beIN Sports CONNECT provides on-line options for you to follow Ligue 1 games via various devices. Fanatiz and fuboTV are also options to follow the action in English and Spanish.
On-demand: Fubo TV is a great way to catch Ligue 1 games both in English and Spanish.
France
TV: CANAL Plus will broadcast select Ligue 1 matches. Meanwhile, beIN Sports France will cover all Ligue 1 games throughout the 2019/2020 campaign.
Online streaming: beIN Sports CONNECT will stream content on various platforms.
UK
TV: Check out BT Sport for Ligue 1 coverage throughout the season.
Online streaming: BT Sport 1, 2, 3, and BT Sport ESPN will provide online streaming options over the course of the 2019/2020 term.
Canada
TV: beIN Sports Canada will provide English-language coverage. For fans who speak Spanish, feel free to check out beIN Sports in Espanol.
Online streaming: beIN Sports CONNECT provides on-line options for you to follow Ligue 1 games via various devices. DAZN Canada and fuboTV are also options to follow the action in English and Spanish.
On-demand: Fubo TV is a great way to catch Ligue 1 games in English and Spanish.
Australia
TV: beIN Sports Australia will carry Ligue 1 games on its various channels.
Online streaming: beIN CONNECT Australia will provide streaming choices on various devices.
On-demand: Kayo Sports will broadcast games featured on beIN Sports and beIN CONNECT.
Germany
TV: DAZN DACH will broadcast all Ligue 1 games in both Austria and Germany, while Sport1+ will only provide coverage of select matches.
Brazil
TV: DAZN Brazil will provide broadcast coverage for all Ligue 1 games throughout the season in Brazil.
Portugal
TV: Eleven Sports Portugal will cover between five and six Ligue 1 games on each matchday for fans based in Portugal.
South Africa
TV: StarTimes will be providing broadcast coverage for all Ligue 1 games in South Africa.
Nigeria
TV: StarTimes Media will be covering all Ligue 1 games for followers living in Nigera. However, Canal+ Afrique will only be providing coverage for five or six games per matchday this season, so keep that in mind.
Italy
TV: DAZN Italia will provide coverage for five or six Ligue 1 games on each matchday for fans who live in Italy.
Spain
TV: Spanish fans can check out Telefonica, whose Movistar channels will be broadcasting selected Ligue 1 games throughout the season.
