Strasbourg Faces Marseille to Open the Ligue 1 Season
Listen to the story
Strasbourg, a French football club, has been compared to Chelsea because both clubs have benefited from strong investment. However, Strasbourg is seen as a less flashy or well-known version of the English club.
The team will begin its new Ligue 1 season with a match against Olympique de Marseille, often called OM. This game marks the start of an important period for both clubs.
Before the fixture, fans and journalists have been discussing the probable lineups for both teams. These lists show which players are expected to start the match.
There has also been interest in knowing which TV channel will broadcast the game and at what time it will kick off. This information helps fans plan to watch the match live.
Ligue 1 is the top division of French football, similar to England's Premier League. Every season, clubs compete for the title and other important positions in the league table.
Strasbourg's comparison to Chelsea likely stems from having investors who provide significant financial support, a pattern often seen in modern football ownership. Yet, unlike Chelsea, Strasbourg has not gained the same level of international fame.
As the new season begins, fans of both Strasbourg and Marseille are eager to see how their teams perform. The match against OM will be an early test of Strasbourg's ambitions this year.
Vocabulary10 words
- investment
- money put into something to help it grow
- fixture
- a scheduled sports match
- lineup
- the players chosen to start a match
- broadcast
- to show a program on TV
- title
- the top position or first place in a competition
- investor
- someone who gives money to support a club or business
- ambition
- a strong wish to achieve something important
- division
- a level or group within a league
- flashy
- showy or attracting a lot of attention
- compete
- to try to win against others
Quiz
Answer key
1. Both clubs have strong investment support 2. Which TV channel will broadcast the game and its kickoff time 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Strasbourg, a French football club, has been compared to Chelsea because both clubs have benefited from strong _____. However, Strasbourg is seen as a less _____ or well-known version of the English club.
The team will begin its new Ligue 1 season with a match against Olympique de Marseille, often called _____. This game marks the start of an important period for both clubs.
Before the _____, fans and journalists have been discussing the probable _____ for both teams. These lists show which players are expected to start the match.
There has also been interest in knowing which TV channel will _____ the game and at what time it will kick off. This information helps fans plan to watch the match live.
Ligue 1 is the top _____ of French football, similar to England's Premier League. Every season, clubs compete for the _____ and other important positions in the league table.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think people compare Strasbourg to Chelsea?
- What role do investors play in modern football clubs?
- Why might fans want to know the lineup before a match?
- Do you think TV broadcasts affect how popular a football league becomes? Why or why not?