The rivalries
Le Classique—and what lies beyond it
Paris Saint-Germain against Marseille is Le Classique and usually the league's most internationally requested fixture. Lyon against Marseille is known as the Choc des Olympiques. Lyon against Saint-Étienne, when both are in the same competition, is the Derby Rhône-Alpes—not the Choc des Olympiques. Lens against Lille adds the Derby du Nord, one of the calendar's strongest regional occasions.
Demand also follows the table. A late-season match involving European qualification, promotion history or relegation can become far more important than it looked when the calendar was first released.