- PSG head into a season without Kylian Mbappe for first time since 2016-17
- Marseille now have Roberto De Zerbi in charge
- Lyon likely to have improved campaign

Although PSG romped to a third successive Ligue 1 title, there was a layer of unpredictability to the French top flight last season and the hope is that trend will continue this term.

Brest achieved a sensational third-placed finish, while Lens made the top seven and Marseille missed out on European football altogether.

It was a rollercoaster campaign and with Kylian Mbappe having now left PSG for Real Madrid, there will be optimism in the air for Ligue 1's chasing pack.

PSG prepare for life after Mbappe

It will not have come as a major surprise for PSG fans to see Mbappe depart for Real Madrid this summer - it has been a long time coming.

But Mbappe spent seven seasons in the French capital and leaves as PSG's all-time top goalscorer, so his departure undoubtedly leaves a void in the team.

PSG have won the Ligue 1 title in six of the last seven seasons, including each of the previous three, and there is every chance they could go the distance again.

But there are certainly reasons to suggest they may not have it all their own way this time.

Lille showed PSG can be dethroned back in the 2020-21 season and Mbappe's departure is sure to rock the team.

Arrivals Joao Neves and Willian Pacho, meanwhile, are promising talents for the future rather than players expected to hit the ground running and it looks like the start of a lengthy transitional period for Luis Enrique's men.

Marseille and Lyon among chasing pack

Last season it was Monaco who followed PSG home in second spot, while Brest stunned everyone by finishing third on 61 points.

But for that to happen, some of the division's established clubs such as Lyon and Marseille had to underperform and that may not be the case in 2024-25.

Monaco will undoubtedly be weaker following the departure of last season's top scorer Wissam Ben Yedder, while Lille have lost Leny Yoro and are under new management with Bruno Genesio in the dugout.

Brest have kept the bulk of their squad together, although they have lost a number of loaness and it remains to be seen how they will juggle European football with their domestic football.

Prediction

PSG's dominance over French football could be broken this season and it may be Marseille, whose last Ligue 1 triumph came in 2010, who are the beneficiaries.

New manager Roberto De Zerbi should steady the ship at Marseille after a turbulent campaign and the likes of Ismael Kone, Bamo Meite and Mason Greenwood have been signed, while Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has arrived on loan.

Going from eighth to first is a big ask but weirder things have happened in Ligue 1 and the fact Marseille do not have to contend with any European football this season will make it easier for De Zerbi to implement his methods from the off.

Lyon could also be set for a solid campaign and could make a strong push to achieve a top three finish.

Pierre Sage oversaw a remarkable turnaround for Lyon last term as they went from 18th spot in December to a sixth-placed finish after 15 wins in 20 games.

If they can carry that form into the new season, they have every chance of going well.

Said Benrahma, Orel Mangala and Moussa Niakhate have all been drafted in from the Premier League, while Georges Mikautadze looks like a fine capture.

Mikautadze excelled at Euro 2024 with three goals for Georgia and netted 13 goals for relegated Metz in Ligue 1 last season.