Olympic Star vs Never Give Up Academy - Ligue A

The Ligue A returns to the home ground on September 16, 2026, where Olympic Star and Never Give Up Academy will lock horns in a contest that could shape their respective campaigns. Anderson was pointing out that City had held the whip hand in this fixture "for as long as I've known", which isn't exactly inaccurate but will also fan the flames ahead of Sunday's Old Trafford showdown.

A glance at the Ligue A table tells the story: Olympic Star in 12th and Never Give Up Academy in 9th, with positions to defend and places to climb. Olympic Star are still searching for momentum, DDL in their last five and a season win rate of just 0%. The visitors have been hard to predict on their travels, DWL in their last five reflecting a win rate of 33.33%. One side has leaned on a miserly defence, the other on a free-scoring attack, and the meeting of those contrasting strengths promises an intriguing tactical subtext. That result ended the European giants' 14-game unbeaten run in the competition, as Fede Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and Jude Bellingham were contained by an "incredible" performance from a player barely anyone outside of France had heard of.

Set-piece efficiency could prove the difference on the night. Both Olympic Star and Never Give Up Academy have invested time in dead-ball situations this season, and a single corner or free-kick may settle it. Andoni Iraola could not have been clearer about how he plans to change Liverpool when speaking in his opening press conference.

In fixtures as finely poised as this one, it often comes down to who holds their nerve in the big moments — and both camps have players who relish that responsibility. Discipline at the back and sharpness in front of goal will likely tilt the balance one way or the other. The Dutch striker faces an uncertain future at Old Trafford with repeated links over a move away.

Without the market to lean on, the contest feels genuinely open — and the outcome may come down to which side handles the occasion better. Given the balance of the numbers, Never Give Up Academy look capable of springing a surprise on the road — a 0-1 away victory is a distinct possibility. With positions in the Ligue A table to defend and momentum to chase, neither side can afford to leave anything in the tank. England captain Harry Kane is likely to sign a new deal to extend his stay at Bayern Munich despite interest from Barcelona.