Ligue 1 McDonald's Friendly Round-up

French football is getting ready to return. Ligue 3 is already underway, whilst Ligue 2 BKT has also returned this weekend. There is the Trophée des Champions to look forward to next Sunday (16/08) when reigning Ligue 1 McDonald's champions Paris Saint-Germain will face Coupe de France winners RC Lens. And Ligue 1 McDonald's returns less than a week later, as Marseille and Strasbourg get the action underway on the Friday (21/08). Plenty of top-flight sides were in action this week. We take you through some of the key action.

Mallorca 3-0 PSG

Les Parisiens' season starts earlier than most. They will face Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup next Wednesday and will also play Lens in the Trophée des Champions before a ball is even kicked in Ligue 1 McDonald's. But, as has become tradition for them, they returned later than most for pre-season; the sheer quantity of their players playing in the World Cup (and going deep) didn't make it easy either.

Their first pre-season friendly was played on Wednesday and it ended in a defeat to La Liga 2 side RCD Mallorca (3-0). Zito Luvumbo, Jan Virgili, and Antonio Raillo were on target for the Spanish side. Cause for concern? "These were special circumstances, with only two days training, and some players playing their first game with the professional side" began PSG assistant manager, Rafel Pol, after the defeat. "We have to keep working and we will have to advance quickly because there is a first final in a week. I hope other players will be with us on Saturday against Manchester [United]."

Monaco 1-0 Getafe

Monaco are another side who will have a busy start to the 2026/27 season, thanks to their European commitments. They must contest a two-legged Europa Conference League play-off before the month is out.

Filipe Luis' men continued their preparations without Maghnes Akliouche, now a PSG player, but with new signings such as Mathys Detourbet and Matthis Abline. However, it was another striker who got the only goal of the game. Paris Brunner has been in hot form in pre-season and continued his fine streak by netting from the spot in a 1-0 win at the Stade Louis II. The German has furthered his case for more minutes ahead of the coming Ligue 1 McDonald's season.

Marseille 3-0 Al-Shahana

By Bruno Genesio's own admission, this hasn't been an easy pre-season for Marseille. Financial constraints have prevented them from adding to their squad, whilst many players have been linked with exits. Some, notably Mason Greenwood, have already left.

Genesio has not sought to complain, however, and a 3-0 win over Al-Shahana on Wednesday is cause for optimism for OM heading into the Ligue 1 McDonald's season. Igor Paixao put his side ahead, getting on the end of an Emerson cross. Himad Abdelli then headed in to double Marseille's lead before Jurrien Timber rounded out the scoring. Their preparations continue, against Athletic Bilbao, on Sunday.

Strasbourg 2-5 SV Elversberg

It hasn't been an easy pre-season for new Strasbourg manager Hugo Oliveira and it didn't get any easier when they lost to SV Elversberg on Tuesday (2-5). Le Racing have yet to register a win in their four pre-season games and across those games, they have conceded 18 goals.

The German side, newly promoted to the Bundesliga, ran riot in the second-half, having gone into half-time level at 2-2. It was Martial Godo who got both of Strasbourg's goals, the latter coming from a nice cross from Ivory Coast teammate Guéla Doué. But three goals without reply from Elversberg in the second half highlight the work that still needs to be done by Oliveira ahead of the start of the season.

Other Results:

Lorient 5-1 UNFP
Ipswich Town 1-0 Le Havre
Stade Briochin 1-2 Brest