Pre-season: Lyon continue perfect start as schedules take shape
The new Ligue 1 McDonald's campaign kicks off on Friday, 21 August, and clubs across France are stepping up their preparations with a busy programme of pre-season friendlies.
Olympique Lyonnais, FC Lorient, Stade Rennais FC and ESTAC Troyes have already got their summer underway, while the remaining clubs will begin their preparations over the coming weeks.
Early wins for Lyon and Lorient
Olympique Lyonnais have made an impressive start under the guidance of Paulo Fonseca, scoring 11 goals across their opening two outings. A 5-2 victory over Mâcon 71 was followed by an entertaining 6-3 success against Swiss side FC St. Gallen, with young striker Himbert netting a hat-trick in both matches.
FC Lorient also opened their summer with a victory, overcoming US Concarneau 2-1 thanks to goals from Panos Katseris and Tosin, while Stade Rennais suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat to SM Caen despite Esteban Lepaul finding the net.
ESTAC Troyes, newly promoted to Ligue 1 McDonald's, also enjoyed a winning start by beating AS Nancy Lorraine 3-1.
Plenty of European tests ahead
Several Ligue 1 clubs will face high-profile European opposition during their preparations. AS Monaco are set to take on Sporting CP, Cercle Brugge, Getafe and Liverpool, while Paris Saint-Germain will meet RCD Mallorca before facing Manchester United.
RC Strasbourg Alsace have one of the busiest schedules, including a double-header against Brighton & Hove Albion before taking on SC Freiburg and Newcastle United.
Olympique Lyonnais will also be tested by Servette, Slavia Prague, Wolfsburg and Real Betis, while OGC Nice face Juventus and Cagliari ahead of the new campaign.
Confirmed pre-season fixtures
Angers SCO
- 1 August: Le Mans FC
- 8 August: FC Lorient
AJ Auxerre
- 18 July: Lusitanos Saint-Maur
- 25 July: US Orléans
- 1 August: FC Sochaux
- 8 August: ESTAC Troyes
- 12 August: Paris FC
- 15 August: Werder Bremen
Stade Brestois 29
- 18 July: US Concarneau
- 22 July: Al-Wakrah SC
- 1 August: EA Guingamp
- 5 August: Saint-Brieuc
- 8 August: Venezia
- 16 August: Nottingham Forest
Havre AC
- 24 July: Red Star
- 4 August: Ipswich Town
- 15 August: Le Mans FC
Le Mans FC
- 18 July: Vendée FC La Roche/Yon
- 22 July: FC Versailles
- 25 July: FC Nantes
- 1 August: Angers SCO
- 8 August: UNFP FC
- 15 August: Havre AC
RC Lens
- 18 July: US Boulogne CO
- 28 July: Crystal Palace and Famalicão (Como Cup, 45-minute matches)
- 31 July/1 August: Como Cup placement match
- 8 August: Sunderland
LOSC
- 18 July: RAAL La Louvière
- 1 August: OH Leuven
- 15 August: Everton
FC Lorient
- 11 July: US Concarneau 2-1
- 18 July: FC Nantes
- 25 July: EA Guingamp
- 4 August: UNFP FC
- 8 August: Angers SCO
- 15 August: SV Elversberg
Olympique Lyonnais
- 8 July: Mâcon 71 5-2
- 11 July: FC St. Gallen 6-3
- 15 July: Servette
- 18 July: Slavia Prague
- 24 July: Wolfsburg
- 29 July: Real Betis
AS Monaco
- 18 July: AS Saint-Priest
- 25 July: Sporting CP
- 31 July: Cercle Brugge
- 6 August: Getafe
- 9 August: Liverpool
OGC Nice
- 18 July: Nîmes Olympique
- 31 July: Juventus
- 8 August: Cagliari
Paris FC
- 18 July: Stade de Reims
- 1 August: VfB Stuttgart
- 12 August: AJ Auxerre
Paris Saint-Germain
- 5 August: RCD Mallorca
- 8 August: Manchester United
Stade Rennais FC
- 9 July: SM Caen 1-2
- 17 July: EA Guingamp
- 25 July: Club Brugge
- 2 August: To be confirmed
- 8 August: Brentford XI and Brentford FC
- 15 August: Sunderland
RC Strasbourg Alsace
- 20 July: Sporting CP
- 25 July: Blackburn Rovers
- 1 August: Brighton & Hove Albion (two matches)
- 4 August: SV Elversberg
- 8 August: SC Freiburg
- 16 August: Newcastle United
Toulouse FC
- 25 July: Rodez AF
- 31 July: Real Sociedad
ESTAC Troyes
- 11 July: AS Nancy Lorraine 3-1
- 18 July: Red Star
- 25 July: Grenoble Foot 38
- 1 August: GOAL FC
- 8 August: AJ Auxerre
- 15 August: Opponent to be confirmed
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