What to watch for this weekend: 5 key storylines

Olympique de Marseille's turbulent week

Following last weekend's loss to Stade Rennais, things have been heating up in the Phocéen City as Marseille will be without key men Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe following their exclusion and subsequent transfer-listing after a physical altercation in the dressing room. The divorce between the two players and Roberto De Zerbi's squad is definitive, and the Italian will have to do without them as well as new-signing Facundo Medina, who picked up an injury this week.

"I'm going to have to change things," said De Zerbi during his pre-match press conference. "Of course that also means what we did during pre-season. But that's part of my job. The problem is that we've worked hard on a system that we have to change. But we'll get our heads down and get to work."

Can Les Olympiens turn around a complicated start to the season? Or will the off-pitch drama be too much of a distraction for the Marseille squad?

Paris FC travel to the Vélodrome, a return for the Lopez brothers

Newly-promoted Paris FC will travel to the Stade Vélodrome in their second game since returning to Ligue 1 McDonald's for the first time in 46 years. A strike from Esteban Lepaul saw Les Parisiens lose their opening match against Angers last Sunday - but a trip to a distracted Marseille side could prove as an opportunity for Stéphane Gilli's men.

It will also be an opportunity for Maxime Lopez and Julien Lopez to make their return to the Stade Vélodrome after growing up in the Provence region city and the former even playing for Marseille. "It was the match my brother Julien and I were most looking forward to," said Lopez as soon as the Ligue 1 McDonald's fixtures came out. "It will be Marseille's first home game. It's going to be something special to return to that stadium."

OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE vs PARIS FC
Saturday 23rd August, 17:00
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille

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Champions League spot contenders Monaco and Lille with early season clash

Two of last season's UEFA Champions League spot contenders in Lille and Monaco will face-off at Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Sunday, in a match which could throw up some tactical intrigue between managers Bruno Génésio and Adi Hütter. Lille were held to an entertaining 3-3 draw by Brest last weekend, but veteran Olivier Giroud managed to score to mark his return to Ligue 1 McDonald's. Monaco meanwhile got off to a winning start over Le Havre, with a debut goal for Englishman Eric Dier.

Monaco's Folarin Balogun looks set to return for the Principality side - but Ansu Fati and Paul Pogba's turn will still have to wait. It looks nonetheless to be an intriguing match-up on Sunday.

LILLE OSC vs AS MONACO
Sunday, 24th August, 20:45 CET
Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille

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The season's first Breton Derby: Lorient vs Rennes

Following last weekend's Derby de l'Est between Strasbourg and FC Metz, there will be another derby clash in the second week of Ligue 1 McDonald's action: this time between FC Lorient and Stade Rennais to mark the first Breton Derby of the season.

Habib Beye's men will travel to the promoted side having secured a late and morale-boosting 1-0 win over Marseille thanks to Ludovic Blas's late late strike during last weekend's opening match. There will be a sell-out crowd at Lorient's Stade du Moustoir, who will be hoping to replicate their previous win (1-2) over Stade Rennais in the last time that these two sides faced off back in 2024. Les Merlus currently have 10 derby wins over their rivals, whilst Rennes have won 22 times.

FC LORIENT VS STADE RENNAIS
Friday, 15th August, 20:45 CET
Stade du Moustoir, 15:00 CET

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The Champions face Angers for their Parc des Princes return

Meanwhile, Ligue 1 McDonald's champions Paris Saint-Germain make their return to the Parc des Princes on Friday evening with a clash against Angers. Luis Enrique's side came off the back of a 1-0 win over Nantes after coming back to pre-season preparations three weeks ago. Vitinha, captained for the first time in a PSG shirt, scored a deflected effort to get the European and Champions of France off to a winning start. Le SCO also grabbed their first win of the campaign over newly promoted Paris FC last weekend, so both side's 100% records will be tested in the second gameweek of the season.

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN vs ANGERS SCO
Friday, 22nd August, 20:45 CET
Parc des Princes, Paris

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