Honestly, if you took a nap back in August and just woke up to look at the france ligue 1 league table, you’d probably think you were still dreaming. Or maybe that the standings were upside down. For years, the story in France has been "PSG and then everyone else." But as we hit the middle of January 2026, the script has been shredded.
RC Lens is sitting at the very top. Yeah, you read that right.
After 17 matches, the Sang et Or have clawed their way to 40 points, sitting a precarious but prestigious one point ahead of the Parisian giants. It’s not just a fluke of the schedule, either. Under Pierre Sage—who took over in June 2025—Lens has become this incredibly stubborn defensive machine. They’ve only let in 13 goals all season. When you’re that hard to break down, you don't need to score four goals a game to win; you just need to be clinical.
The Battle for the Crown: Lens vs. PSG
The current france ligue 1 league table reflects a genuine title race, something we haven’t seen feel this "real" in a long time. PSG is right there, obviously. They’ve got 39 points and a goal difference of +22, which is actually better than Lens. Luis Enrique’s side is still the most dangerous attacking force in the country, having bagged 37 goals already.
But Lens has this weird, gritty momentum. They recently went on a seven-match winning streak. While PSG was busy winning the Trophée des Champions on penalties against Marseille earlier this month, Lens was just quietly picking up three points at a time.
Here is how the top of the pile looks right now:
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- RC Lens: 40 points (13 wins, 1 draw, 3 losses)
- Paris Saint-Germain: 39 points (12 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses)
- Olympique de Marseille: 32 points (10 wins, 2 draws, 5 losses)
- LOSC Lille: 32 points (10 wins, 2 draws, 5 losses)
The gap between second and third is seven points. That’s a bit of a chasm. It feels like the league is splitting into two mini-leagues: the two horses at the front and then a massive, chaotic scrap for the remaining Champions League spots.
Marseille, Lille, and the European Scramble
Marseille and Lille are locked in a dead heat for third. It's been a wild season for OM. They’ve got Mason Greenwood leading the league's scoring charts with 11 goals, but they’ve also been frustratingly inconsistent. One week they look like world-beaters, and the next they’re dropping points where they shouldn't.
Lille is right on their heels, mostly thanks to a balanced squad that doesn't seem to care if they’re playing at home or away. Then you’ve got Lyon and Rennes, both sitting on 30 points. Lyon’s resurgence under their current setup has been one of the better stories of the winter. They started the season a bit sluggish but have climbed the table steadily.
Mid-Table Mediocrity or Safety?
Strasbourg is in 7th with 24 points. They’ve had a weird year—their manager, Liam Rosenior, actually left just a few days ago to join Chelsea. That kind of mid-season upheaval usually tanks a team, so it’ll be interesting to see if they can stay in the top half.
Further down, you see some famous names struggling. AS Monaco is languishing in 9th place with 23 points. For a team that signed Paul Pogba and Eric Dier on free transfers over the summer, being in the bottom half of the top ten is basically a disaster. They’ve lost eight games already. That’s more than any other team in the top twelve.
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The Relegation Nightmare
At the bottom of the france ligue 1 league table, things are getting desperate. This season, the bottom two go down automatically, and 16th place enters a playoff.
Right now, Metz is rooted to the bottom with 12 points and a goal difference of -20. They’ve lost 11 of their 17 games. AJ Auxerre is right there with them, also on 12 points. It’s a grim outlook for both.
Nantes is currently occupying that stressful 16th-place playoff spot with 14 points. They recently fired their manager and brought in Ahmed Kantari to try and stop the bleeding, but it hasn't quite clicked yet. Paris FC, back in the big time after 46 years, is only two points ahead of them in 15th. Every single matchday for these four or five teams feels like a cup final.
Leading Scorers and Stat Leaders
While the table tells the story of the teams, the individual stats explain why those teams are where they are.
- Mason Greenwood (Marseille): 11 goals. He’s been the difference-maker in tight games.
- Joaquín Panichelli (Strasbourg): 10 goals. A massive bright spot for a team in transition.
- Esteban Lepaul (Rennes): 9 goals.
- Pavel Šulc (Lyon): 8 goals.
In terms of playmaking, Vitinha (PSG) is leading the league with 6 assists, tied with guys like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Adrien Thomasson. It’s a very democratic league this year; the talent is spread out more than we’re used to seeing.
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What to Watch For Next
The next few weeks are going to be massive. We have a huge clash coming up between PSG and Lille at the Parc des Princes. If PSG wins that and Lens slips up against Auxerre (which, honestly, isn't likely given Auxerre's form), the table could flip again by Monday.
Also, keep an eye on the "Parisian Derby" dynamics. With Paris FC back in Ligue 1, the city has a different energy, though PFC is currently fighting for survival rather than local bragging rights.
If you’re tracking the france ligue 1 league table for betting or just for the love of the game, pay attention to the "Goals Against" column. In a league this tight, the teams with the best defenses—Lens and PSG—are the only ones staying consistent. Everyone else is just trading blows in the middle of the pack.
Actionable Insights for Following Ligue 1:
- Monitor the Lens Defensive Stats: If their goals-conceded average starts to creep up toward 1.0 per game, expect PSG to reclaim the top spot permanently.
- Watch the Managerial Impact at Strasbourg: A team losing its coach to the Premier League mid-season is historically a prime candidate for a slide down the table.
- Focus on the Relegation Six-Pointers: Matches involving Nantes, Auxerre, and Metz over the next month will likely determine who stays up, as the gap to the mid-table (Angers/Brest) is starting to widen.
- Check the Thursday/Friday Lineups: With European competitions resuming soon, PSG and Lille will likely rotate their squads, which is exactly when Lens (who aren't in Europe this year) can extend their lead.