Will AS Monaco Win the Ligue 1 Title After Leading the French League's Strong Start?
Monaco have regained their place among France's top teams and are threatening PSG's dominance in Ligue 1.
AS Monaco have started the 2026-27 season with enough arguments to raise the question of whether they can genuinely challenge for the Ligue 1 title.
A PROMISING START FOR AS MONACO
The Principality club are top of the table, unbeaten, and have already secured one of the biggest wins of the campaign: a 2-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes.
The team managed by Filipe Luís have collected 13 points from a possible 15, with four wins and one draw. Monaco opened the season with a 1-0 victory over Le Havre, followed by a 2-0 win against Olympique de Marseille, before producing a major statement by beating the reigning French champions in Paris.
After a 1-1 draw against Strasbourg, the Monegasques returned to winning ways against Lens, securing a 2-1 victory at the Stade Louis-II. The result put them alone at the top of the Ligue 1 standings, with just three goals conceded in five matches.
A FIXTURE LIST THAT COULD WORK IN THEIR FAVOR
The next challenge will be Toulouse on October 10, before a trip to Lorient on October 18 and a home match against Lille on October 25. In November, Monaco will then travel to face Paris FC.
There are plenty of reasons for Monaco to be confident. They remain unbeaten, have already won high-pressure matches and possess one of the strongest defensive records in the league. They have also shown they can beat PSG, the reigning French champions, as well as Lens, another team expected to compete near the top of the table.
Among the players driving AS Monaco's impressive start is Paris Brunner, who has scored four goals in five Ligue 1 appearances and emerged as the team's main attacking reference. The German forward scored twice against Olympique de Marseille and found the net again against Strasbourg and Lens, while also being named Monaco's MVP for September.
Alongside him, Aleksandr Golovin has recorded two goal contributions, while Flávio Nazinho has also registered two attacking contributions. Eric Dier, in addition to bringing experience to the defense, has contributed one goal and one assist.
With Lukáš Hrádecký between the posts and Denis Zakaria providing balance in midfield, Filipe Luís' side have put together a highly competitive start that keeps them at the top of the 2026-27 Ligue 1 table.
A RETURN TO LIGUE 1 GLORY?
To find Monaco's most recent Ligue 1 title, you have to go back to the 2016-17 season, when they won the championship with a talented generation led by Kylian Mbappé, Bernardo Silva and Radamel Falcao, among other stars who left their mark on the club's history.
That was the eighth French league title in the club's history. Monaco had previously been crowned champions in 1961, 1963, 1978, 1982, 1988, 1997 and 2000. Since their 2017 triumph, PSG have dominated French football.
MONACO RE-EMERGE AMONG PSG'S MAIN CHALLENGERS
The battle to dethrone PSG no longer appears to be limited to a single contender. After the first five rounds, Lyon have 11 points, Paris FC have 11, Lille have 10 and Rennes have 10, while Monaco lead the standings with 13 points. PSG, meanwhile, sit sixth with eight points.
In recent seasons, clubs such as Lille, Lens, Lyon and Marseille have taken on the role of the main challengers to the Parisian powerhouse. Now, Monaco are once again demanding attention.
There is still almost an entire season to play, but their impressive start, their victory over PSG and their status as unbeaten league leaders suggest that the 2026-27 Ligue 1 title race could be far more open than in previous years.
THE KEY FACTORS BEHIND MONACO'S STRONG START
- League leaders and unbeaten: Monaco have collected 13 points from a possible 15 in Ligue 1.
- A statement win over PSG: The Monegasques defeated PSG 2-1 in Paris.
- Back in the title race: Filipe Luís' side are once again emerging as one of PSG's main challengers.
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