PARIS, Aug 23 (V7N)- France is poised to have a record number of participants in the Champions League this season, with potentially four teams representing Ligue 1. Lille's 2-0 victory against Slavia Prague in the first leg of their play-off tie puts them in a strong position to join Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco, and Brest in the expanded 36-team Champions League format. This would be the first time France has four clubs in the competition.

However, Ligue 1 faces significant challenges, including a financial crisis affecting the league's overall stability. The new domestic broadcast deal, worth 500 million euros annually, represents a 20% decrease from the previous contract, marking the lowest figure for domestic broadcast rights in France in nearly two decades. This drop in revenue has already impacted clubs' ability to invest in new players, with even PSG, despite their wealthy Qatari owners, being cautious in the transfer market.

The reduced TV deal further widens the gap between Ligue 1 and Europe's top leagues, and there are concerns about fans' willingness to pay the 30 euros monthly subscription fee for DAZN, the streaming platform that now holds the broadcasting rights. The situation echoes the 2020 crisis when Mediapro, a Spanish company, pulled out of a record broadcast deal shortly after it began.

Despite these challenges, the season has started with strong performances from PSG and Marseille. PSG, now without Kylian Mbappe, who has moved to Real Madrid, will face Montpellier at home, while Marseille, with their controversial new signing Mason Greenwood, will host Reims.

Key Statistics:
- PSG's squad, minus Mbappe and the injured Goncalo Ramos, scored only nine goals combined last season.
- If Lille advances past Slavia Prague, France will have four clubs in the Champions League for the first time.

Upcoming Fixtures:
Friday: Paris Saint-Germain v Montpellier (1845 GMT), Saturday:** Lyon v Monaco (1500 GMT), Lille v Angers (1700 GMT), Saint-Etienne v Le Havre (1900 GMT), Sunday: Lens v Brest (1300 GMT), Nantes v Auxerre, Nice v Toulouse, Strasbourg v Rennes (all 1500 GMT), Marseille v Reims (1845 GMT)