ESTAC Troyes and Paris FC open the new season at Stade de l'Aube
ESTAC Troyes and Paris FC meet in the first round of the 2026/2027 Ligue 1 season at Stade de l'Aube in Troyes. The match is scheduled for Saturday, August 22, with kick-off at 20:45. For the home side, this marks a return to the top flight after three seasons, while Paris FC begins its second consecutive season among the French elite.
Troyes returned as Ligue 2 champions. Stéphane Dumont's team secured promotion with a 3-0 away victory over Saint-Étienne and confirmed the title with a 4-0 home win against Laval. The 2025/2026 season showed just how important Stade de l'Aube can be: Troyes recorded 14 wins, one draw and only two defeats in 17 home league matches.
Paris FC arrives with a different experience. After returning to Ligue 1 in the 2025/2026 season, it finished 11th with 44 points. The final round also brought a 2-1 victory against Paris Saint-Germain, showing that the club can take points even against the strongest opponents.
The first round means there is no points cushion and no room for calculations based on the table. Troyes wants to prove that its Ligue 2 title was no accident, while Paris FC wants to show immediately that its second season among the elite can be a step forward.
Tickets for this match are in demand among supporters.
Troyes enters Ligue 1 with very good summer form
The pre-season results give the home side reason for optimism. Troyes completed the summer unbeaten: four wins and two draws. The results came in sequence: 3-1 against AS Nancy-Lorraine, 1-0 against Red Star FC, 3-0 against Grenoble Foot 38, 5-2 against Goal FC, followed by two 1-1 draws against AJ Auxerre and Panetolikós FC.
The way the preparations ended is particularly interesting. Against Auxerre, Troyes fell behind, but Renaud Ripart headed in to make it 1-1. Six days later, the same team again had to chase the result at Stade de l'Aube against Panetolikós, and Ripart once more scored for the final 1-1.
That is a good signal for a team moving into a higher division. During pre-season it did not fall apart after conceding, and its attacking output did not depend on facing only one type of opponent. Troyes defeated teams from lower divisions but also remained unbeaten against Auxerre, a Ligue 1 side.
The foundation of last season's success
The numbers from the championship-winning season explain why Troyes is expected to take a courageous approach in the higher division as well. The team scored 60 goals in Ligue 2, the most in the competition, and kept 12 clean sheets. It was particularly convincing at home.
- 14 wins in 17 home league matches
- 43 points won at Stade de l'Aube
- 60 league goals scored during the season
- 12 clean sheets
- 21 points won after the team had fallen behind
Tawfik Bentayeb was Ligue 2's top scorer with 18 goals, but the team entering the new season no longer looks identical to the one that won the title. Martin Adeline, one of last season's important creative players, left Troyes, as did several prominent young players.
That gives even greater importance to the players who remained. Adrien Monfray brings experience to the back line, Antoine Mille remains important in midfield, while among the attacking options Stéphane Dumont has Renaud Ripart, Kandet Diawara, Merwan Ifnaoui, Ibrahim Traoré and Elijah Odede. Iron Gomis has also arrived in midfield, a player with experience in France, Turkey, Italy and Azerbaijan.
Ripart is particularly interesting ahead of the first round. He scored against Auxerre and then again against Panetolikós. For a team that has lost last season's leading scorer, such an end to pre-season could be important.
Paris FC has a new coaching staff and a significantly changed attack
Paris FC enters the season under Liam Rosenior. The English coach took charge of the team at the beginning of July and signed a contract until June 2028. That means the trip to Troyes is not only the opening round of the new season but also the first league test of the new coaching project.
The team gained several new or permanently retained attacking options during the summer. Lassine Sinayoko arrived from AJ Auxerre. Luca Koleosho, after a previous loan spell, returned to Paris FC on a permanent basis. Pablo Pagis is also a new face in attack and was one of the most notable players during pre-season.
Just before the start of the league season, Paris FC was left without Ciro Immobile. The Italian striker announced the end of his professional career on August 14, only a few months after joining the club.
Ilan Kebbal remains one of the team's most important names. In the previous season, he was Paris FC's leading league scorer with nine goals before the final round. Alongside him, Paris FC has players such as Maxime López and Pierre Lees-Melou in midfield, as well as the experienced Kevin Trapp in goal.
Paris FC's preparations produced both good and warning signs
Paris FC opened the summer with a 1-0 victory against Stade de Reims, with Pablo Pagis scoring the only goal. A 2-2 draw against Como followed, with two more goals from Pagis. Against VfB Stuttgart the score was again 2-2, this time with two goals from Luca Koleosho.
The end of the preparations was weaker. FSV Mainz beat Paris FC 4-0, while Angers SCO won the final warm-up match 3-2.
In Angers, Paris FC showed both its attacking threat and the problems Rosenior must solve. After falling behind early, Pagis equalised and Koleosho turned the match around to make it 2-1 before half-time. Angers nevertheless scored twice in the second half and secured the victory. The decisive goal came after a corner.
- Paris FC 1-0 Stade de Reims
- Como 2-2 Paris FC
- Paris FC 2-2 VfB Stuttgart
- FSV Mainz 4-0 Paris FC
- Angers SCO 3-2 Paris FC
The biggest difference compared with Troyes is therefore the current run of results. The home side went through its entire pre-season unbeaten, while Paris FC arrives after two consecutive defeats and seven goals conceded in those two matches.
That does not mean the visitors are without attacking form. Pagis and Koleosho were very effective during the summer, while Sinayoko was involved against Angers in the move from which Pagis scored. That new attacking unit could be one of the main talking points of the match in Troyes.
Where the match could be decided
Troyes was extremely strong at its own stadium last season, and during pre-season it again showed that it can respond after falling behind. Dumont therefore has no reason to completely change the team's identity simply because the level of competition is higher. An aggressive start to the match can be expected, using the energy from the stands and attacking the spaces when Paris FC loses possession.
Balance will be important for the home side. Paris FC has enough individual quality to punish having too many players ahead of the ball. Kebbal can receive the ball between the lines, Koleosho can attack space from the flank, while Sinayoko can provide a physical presence in the final third.
Paris FC, on the other hand, must show that the problems from the end of pre-season were fixable. Seven goals conceded against Mainz and Angers will not be ignored, especially because Angers' final goal came from a set piece. Troyes itself equalised against Auxerre through Ripart after a corner.
One of the more interesting individual battles could therefore take place inside the Paris FC penalty area. Ripart is not the type of striker who needs ten touches to influence a match. His two goals in the final two pre-season matches show how useful he can be from crosses and set pieces.
At the other end, Troyes must be wary of the speed of the visitors' wingers. Koleosho scored twice against Stuttgart and then also found the net against Angers. If Paris FC finds space behind the home full-backs, he could be one of the main sources of danger.
Head-to-head results favour Paris FC
The recent history of this fixture is strongly in favour of the visitors. Paris FC has not lost any of the last five meetings, including four league matches and one friendly.
- Paris FC 1-0 Troyes - Ligue 2, February 2025.
- Troyes 0-3 Paris FC - Ligue 2, October 2024.
- Troyes 1-2 Paris FC - friendly match, July 2024.
- Troyes 1-2 Paris FC - Ligue 2, April 2024.
- Paris FC 2-2 Troyes - Ligue 2, October 2023.
The two league meetings from the 2024/2025 season are particularly relevant. Paris FC won both without conceding: 3-0 in Troyes and 1-0 in Paris. In that second match, Maxime López scored the winning goal late on after an assist from Ilan Kebbal.
Troyes now arrives as a different team and with the Ligue 2 title behind it, but that run gives Paris FC evidence that this opponent has suited it in recent history. At the same time, the home side has additional motivation to end a streak that has already lasted several seasons.
Stade de l'Aube once again awaits top-flight football
Stade de l'Aube is located at 42 Avenue Robert Schumann in Troyes. The stadium opened in 1924 and acquired its present form through several renovations. After work in the early 2000s, its capacity was increased to 21,877 seats.
For supporters, the most important fact from last season is what happened on the pitch. Troyes won 14 of its 17 home league matches. When the Ligue 2 title was confirmed against Laval, around 17,000 spectators were in the stadium. The return to Ligue 1 now brings a new level of interest.
Seats in the stands are disappearing quickly.
For visitors arriving for the first time, it is useful to plan the journey in advance. The stadium is not in an isolated location outside the city and can also be reached by city buses.
- Address: 42 Avenue Robert Schumann, Troyes
- Bus lines 1 and 7 use the Europe stop near the stadium
- The complex has parking facilities, but their number is small compared with the capacity of the stands
- Adapted parking spaces and specially arranged places in the stands are available for people with reduced mobility
- For a major league opener, it is sensible to plan an earlier arrival and avoid the final wave of traffic around the stadium
The exact opening time of the gates for the match against Paris FC is not stated in the currently available match information, so it should not be assumed based on previous events.
Troyes as a destination for visiting supporters
Troyes is a city in northeastern France and the administrative centre of the Aube department. For a supporter coming to the match, one practical fact is that the stadium is located within the urban area, so the visit is not limited to arriving by car.
The historic city centre is known for streets lined with traditional timber-framed houses, while Stade de l'Aube is located east of the central urban area. This makes it possible to combine a visit to the city with the match without needing a long journey between the tourist area and the stadium.
For Paris FC supporters, this is also the first away trip of the new league season. The club has already organised travel for its supporters to Troyes, which suggests that a visible away section will be present at Stade de l'Aube rather than only the home crowd.
The atmosphere could be one of the main elements of the match
For Troyes, this is more than an ordinary opening round. The final home league match of last season brought the lifting of the Ligue 2 trophy, and now the same stadium once again welcomes clubs from the highest level of French football. The combination of promotion, excellent home statistics from last season and an unbeaten pre-season creates a very good foundation for a loud evening.
Paris FC, however, arrives with the experience of an entire previous season in Ligue 1. The team went through the battle for survival without serious final-round drama and ended the league season with a victory against the champions. The new coach and new attackers must now show that the club does not want merely to repeat last season's result.
For the home side, the opening twenty minutes or so will be particularly interesting to watch. If Troyes manages to transfer the energy from the stands onto the pitch and impose a high intensity, Paris FC will quickly have to show how well it has adapted to Rosenior's demands. If the visitors manage to calm the tempo and find Kebbal, Koleosho and Sinayoko in the spaces between the home lines, the match could take a completely different direction.
It is worth securing tickets in good time.
What to watch during the match
The first major theme will be whether Troyes can transfer its home dominance from Ligue 2 to the new level. The figure of 14 wins in 17 home matches was one of the foundations of the title, but Ligue 1 will bring less time on the ball and greater individual quality from opponents.
The second is the Paris FC defence. The team conceded seven goals in its final two pre-season matches. Defending set pieces and controlling the penalty area deserve particular attention, because Troyes has already shown that it can score headers after corners.
The third is the new structure of the Parisian attack. Ciro Immobile's retirement removed one option, but Pagis, Koleosho and Sinayoko give Rosenior speed, movement and more possibilities for positional rotations. With Kebbal behind or alongside them, Paris FC has enough creativity to force the home defence to remain constantly focused.
And finally, Renaud Ripart is worth watching. His two goals in the final two warm-up matches came immediately before the start of the league season. If Troyes looks for an early cross, a second ball or a set piece, the experienced striker could be the man Paris FC's defence will most often have to track.
Ticket sales for this match are under way.
Sources:
- Ligue 1 - opening-round schedule, match time, results and programme of the clubs' pre-season matches.
- ESTAC - Troyes schedule and results, unbeaten end to pre-season, statistics from the 2025/2026 season, current squad, coaching staff and information about Stade de l'Aube and access to the stadium.
- Paris FC - appointment of Liam Rosenior, arrivals of Lassine Sinayoko and Luca Koleosho, pre-season matches, Ciro Immobile's retirement and information about the away trip to Troyes.
- L'Équipe - final pre-season match Angers SCO - Paris FC, 3-2 result, scorers and context of the Parisian defence before the start of the league season.
- Foot Direct - recent head-to-head results between Troyes and Paris FC and information about the venue.
- Troyes Champagne Tourisme - capacity and parking capacity of the Stade de l'Aube sports complex.