Marseille vs Strasbourg: Hojbjerg stripped of captaincy as Ligue 1 kicks off
The 2026-27 Ligue 1 season begins as Marseille welcome Strasbourg to their home ground on Friday, 21 August. The curtain-raiser pits a side dealing with internal upheaval against a visiting team embarking on a fresh start under a new manager.
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Pierre-Emile Højbjerg was stripped of the Marseille captaincy after refusing a move to Newcastle United – despite a £15 million deal being agreed between the clubs. During the final pre-season friendly against Atlético Madrid, the armband was handed to United States international Timothy Weah. Manager Bruno Genesio publicly disagreed with the decision, saying, “I'll be completely frank, it's a decision by the management that I do not share.” Højbjerg nonetheless started the match, fielded in a 4-2-3-1 shape alongside Weah, Balerdi, Cornelius and Emerson in front of goalkeeper De Lange. The squad remains under financial pressure, with owner Frank McCourt reportedly irritated by the player’s stance, and more key departures could follow Mason Greenwood’s exit.
Strasbourg have added Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jørgensen on a season-long loan without an option to buy. The 24-year-old Dane lost his place to Robert Sánchez at Stamford Bridge despite featuring 12 times last season and winning the Conference League and Club World Cup. He is expected to compete for the starting spot straight away. The Alsace club also face a coaching transition: after losing Liam Rosenior and then Gary O’Neil to the Premier League, they appointed the relatively inexperienced Hugo Oliveira to lead the side.