PSG to start Ligue 1 title defence at home to Metz

Paris, July 9: Paris Saint-Germain will begin their Ligue 1 title defence at home to Metz after the French Professional Football League (LFP) announced its 2020-21 top-flight schedule.

The first round of matches will take place on the weekend of August 22-23, with the season set to conclude on May 23 next year.

PSG were awarded their seventh top-flight title in eight seasons after the 2019-20 campaign was abandoned and decided on a point-per-game basis due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The abandonment move has since been questioned amid other elite divisions in Europe successfully resuming their seasons behind closed doors.

An LFP vote sealed Amiens and Toulouse's relegation, with Lorient and Lens promoted from Ligue 2 in their place.

Lorient host Strasbourg on the opening weekend, while Lens are on the road at Nice.

The first Classique of the season comes in the third round of fixtures, with PSG welcoming Marseille to the Parc des Princes in mid-September. The return is billed for February 7.

Marseille start at home to Saint-Etienne, with Bordeaux and Lille hosting Nantes and Rennes respectively.

Lyon begin on the road at Montpellier, with the first of their always feisty clashes against Marseille coming at Groupama Stadium on October 4. The rivalry is then scheduled to resume at the Stade Velodrome on February 28.

It's here!

Check out the 2020/2021 @Ligue1_ENG fixture list https://t.co/usreUgPJgv pic.twitter.com/epufkScGAp

— Ligue1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) July 9, 2020

Ligue 1 2020-21 – Opening weekend fixtures in full:

Lorient v Strasbourg Nimes v Brest Dijon v Angers Bordeaux v Nantes Monaco v Reims Montpellier v Lyon Nice v Lens Lille v Rennes Marseille v Saint-Etienne PSG v Metz