French football champion Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) kicks off their title defence, with standout player Paul Pogba making his comeback to his hometown, while rival team Paris FC embarks on an ambitious challenge.

French Ligue 1 Season 2022-2023: PSG Dominates, Marseille and Lyon Push for Top Spots

The 2022-2023 French Ligue 1 season concluded with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) as the champions, marking their continued dominance in French football. Lens, Olympique Marseille, and Stade Rennais secured the next top positions, respectively.

PSG's success was built on a strong squad, with key player reinforcements and the retention of star talent. The club aimed to sustain dominance in Ligue 1 and advance in Europe, facing the challenge of integrating new players while competing on multiple fronts.

Olympique Lyon (Lyon) and Monaco, on the other hand, faced more mixed results. Lyon showed signs of rebuilding and improvement but were still trailing behind the top contenders like PSG and Marseille. They strived to strengthen their squad depth and overcome inconsistencies. Monaco, despite notable signings and ambitions, experienced typical challenges of balancing youth development and performance under pressure from more financially dominant clubs.

Marseille made a strong push for the title, finishing third with solid performances. Their transfer strategy focused on combining experienced and emerging players to rejuvenate the squad, facing the challenge of competing against PSG's financial powerhouse while trying to maintain stability and momentum.

The broader challenges faced by Ligue 1 clubs in 2022-2023 included balancing competitive ambitions with financial sustainability, managing squad rotations due to congested fixtures, and navigating the evolving transfer market dynamics post-pandemic. PSG's dominance brought scrutiny but also intensified the competitive spirit among clubs like Marseille, Lyon, and Monaco, who aimed to close the gap.

In the 2025-2026 Ligue 1 season, new developments are unfolding, but the 2022-2023 season remains a foundational reference for analyzing team evolution and strategic planning.

Notable transfer news from the 2022-2023 season includes Monaco signing Paul Pogba on a two-year deal, Olivier Giroud joining Lille at the age of 38, and PSG adding goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier from Lille and Ukrainian center-back Illia Zabarnyi from Bournemouth to their squad.

Two Parisian teams, PSG and Paris FC, were in the top flight for the first time since 1990, with Paris FC having been promoted after a takeover by the Arnault family. However, the gulf between the two clubs remains vast, with PSG's success contrasting sharply with Paris FC's struggles.

The French league faced difficulties in finding a domestic broadcast partner, and the deal with streaming platform DAZN was ultimately terminated at the end of the last season. Despite these challenges, PSG continued to excel, winning the UEFA Champions League in 2020, marking the second time a French top flight team has won the tournament. They also went all the way to the Club World Cup final in 2020, where they lost to Chelsea, and won the UEFA Super Cup after coming from two goals down against Tottenham and winning on penalties.

Paul Pogba's career was stalled by injury and an 18-month doping ban, but he returned to Ligue 1 with Lille, aiming to regain his form and help his new team challenge for top positions. The French league and its clubs continue to navigate the complexities of modern football, striving for success while maintaining financial stability and competitive spirit.