Ligue 1 Predictions Duel: Luke vs Bastien as Monaco Shines
The Ligue 1 predictions battle is back for the 2026/27 season, and there’s already daylight at the top of the table. GFFN editor-in-chief Luke Entwistle has raced into an early lead with 15 points, leaving sub-editor Bastien Cheval chasing on 8.
Three points for a perfect scoreline.
Two for the right goal difference.
One for simply calling the result.
Over nine months, those margins will sting.
Game of the week: Strasbourg v Monaco
All eyes this weekend go to the Meinau. RC Strasbourg Alsace against AS Monaco, Saturday at 16:15 (UK). On paper, it’s attack versus defence. On the pitch, it could be chaos.
Monaco arrive in ruthless form. Since Filipe Luís took charge, they’ve rattled off five wins from five, capped by a statement victory over Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes last week. Les Monégasques boast the best defence in the division, compact and controlled, and they travel with the swagger of a team that knows it.
But Strasbourg don’t do quiet afternoons. Le Racing currently own the most prolific attack in the league. Six goals flew in against ESTAC Troyes last weekend, a demolition that underlined their cutting edge. The week before, a 2-1 win over RC Lens at the Meinau reminded everyone they can hurt the big sides, not just bully the strugglers.
Something has to give.
Monaco have suffered one setback. Mamadou Coulibaly has been ruled out with a quadriceps injury, forcing Filipe Luís to break up a settled side. Until now, his XI has barely changed. This time, he has no choice.
Strasbourg, by contrast, are steady. No returnees, no fresh absentees. Same weapons, same rhythm, same confidence after two big home performances. The stadium will be bouncing. The question is whether Monaco’s structure can smother Strasbourg’s fire.
Both Luke and Bastien see this one as too tight to call. They’re united on a 2-2 draw.
Luke’s Ligue 1 predictions
Luke, sitting on that 15-point cushion, goes bold again:
- Rennes 3-1 Marseille
- Strasbourg 2-2 Monaco
- Le Havre 1-0 Angers
- Auxerre 0-1 Nice
- Lorient 0-2 Toulouse
- Paris FC 2-1 Lyon
- Lille 3-0 Troyes
- Le Mans 1-1 Lens
- Brest 0-2 PSG
Heavy wins for Lille and PSG. A narrow escape for Nice. And another tough afternoon forecast for Lyon.
Bastien’s Ligue 1 predictions
Chasing from behind, Bastien mirrors some of Luke’s calls, but looks for his own openings:
- Rennes 3-1 Marseille
- Strasbourg 2-2 Monaco
- Auxerre 0-1 Nice
- Le Havre 1-1 Angers
- Lorient 1-0 Toulouse
- Paris FC 2-1 Lyon
- Lille 1-0 Troyes
- Le Mans 2-1 Lens
- Brest 0-2 PSG
He agrees on Rennes’ superiority over Marseille, the Strasbourg-Monaco thriller, Nice edging Auxerre, Paris FC troubling Lyon, and PSG cruising in Brest. The differences lie in the margins: tighter at Lille, more joy for Le Mans, and a point for Angers.
The predictions table already has a leader and a chaser. With a volatile slate and a game of the week that both refuse to split, who blinks first as the Ligue 1 season starts to bite?
