Newly promoted sides Troyes and Le Mans headline early relegation discussions in the 2026-27 Ligue 1, which kicked off on 21 August. Both clubs completed consecutive promotions but enter with limited top-flight experience, modest budgets, and squads rebuilt largely through free agents and loans. Pre-season models from Opta and others assign Angers, Le Havre, and Nice the next-highest automatic-relegation probabilities, reflecting squad turnover, managerial transitions, and limited spending. After matchday 1, Auxerre, Strasbourg, and Angers sit in the bottom positions, while early draws for the promoted teams underscore the adaptation challenge. Historical patterns show newly promoted clubs frequently occupy the lower table spots in their return season, with survival often hinging on defensive organization and key summer reinforcements.