Games To Watch Next Season

By: Sam | June 1st, 2008

Ah, the new schedule. Who knew that something so simple as mixing and matching twenty different names thirty-eight times could spark so much discussion and debate. Here’s what’s what in terms of the 2008-2009 fixtures.

Day 1 is on 9 August. Nantes jump back onto the scene and take on Auxerre to begin. Bordeaux look to go for Lyon’s throat (indirectly) as they battle Caen at home. Let’s remember that les Malherbistes spanked them 5-0 last season. Le Havre also have an interesting test to start their first Ligue 1 season in a few years as they’ve drawn Nice at home. Lorient hosting Le Mans might be the yawner of the bunch. Lyon go for the figure eight and must start by dealing with Toulouse, who’ve been known to give them troubles in the past. Monaco will welcome PSG in a battle of recent underachievers. Nancy is hosting Lille in what should be a fantastic match between finishers 4 and 5 of last season, respectively. Rennes has been dealt the tricky task of playing host to Marseille (It seems these two play each other early in the season. All the time.). Grenoble are traveling to Sochaux to get their underdog season off on the right foot. And last but not least, Saint-Étienne goes north to do battle with Valenciennes.

In Day 2, PSG is hosting Bordeaux, a matchup that usually produces kick-ass matches with lots of goals.
Day 3 will spark some interest as Steve Mandanda and maybe someone else return to their former club, Le Havre, this time wearing the sky blue and white of OM.
Day 4 is presenting us with no less then le derby du Rhône, with Saint-Étienne hosting the first leg of the battle against Lyon.
Day 8 has Caen visiting Marseille to avenge their 6-1 pwning last season, as Lyon go up to Rennes, where they’ve been known to stumble once or twice before.
Day 9 will see another fiery derby take place, this time between Bordeaux and Toulouse at Chaban-Delmas.

However it’s on Day 10 that shit goes down: Le Classico’s first half is being played out in the south with Marseille taking on PSG.
Day 14 looks just as good, with 1-2 finishers Lyon and Bordeaux going at it at Gerland.
Day 15 will be interesting as well, with a repeat of the Coupe de France final being played between PSG and Lyon in the nation’s capital.
Day 19 has Nancy heading to Marseille with one thing in mind: avenging the last fixture of last season.

And that’s the long and short of it. No, I’m not going to talk about days 20-38. You get the idea. The entire schedule can be consulted here.

What matches are you stoked for?