Ligue 1 - Matchday 26 - Friday and Saturday games

Montpellier V Rennes - Kicks off at 20:00 GMT Friday 25th February

Montpellier won 1-0 at Lorient last weekend. An important victory given that they’d lost their previous two matches and only won one in five. The victory sees La Paillade 9th in the league and in the most congested part of the table. Just two points separates 11th and 6th place. A few wins could launch Montpellier back in to the race for Europe. The win at Lorient came courtesy of Teji Savanier’s 6th goal of the season. The Captain has missed a few games through suspension this season but with 6 assists he is invaluable to his team.

Montpellier are still without English at midfielder Stephy Mavididi who remains out with a knee injury. Centre back Mamadou Sakho has a thigh injury and left back Mihailo Ristić is also still out with a thigh injury so Ambroise Oyongo will continue to deputise.

Rennes thrashed Ligue 1 strugglers Troyes 4-1 at home last weekend. Les Rennais just had far too much attacking quality creating 27 chances 8 of which were on target. They dominated possession too. It was a good reaction after there stoppage time loss to PSG the previous week. The pick of the four goals was the third on 75 minutes. Martin Terrier finished off a lovely series of first time passes to finish from close range. It was a great team goal that takes the 24 year old to 12 goals for the season.

Bruno Genesio has struggled to get a winning run going from his team this year. In fact they haven’t won back to back league games since November. They are rrght in the hunt for European qualification but with a series of wins could push for a Champions League spot. The Bretons have a big injury list and are missing some important players; defenders Lorenz Assignon and Loic Badé are still out with respective ankle and groin injuries. Midfielders Flavien Tait (1 goal and 3 assists) and Lesley Ugochukwu (1 goal) and forwards Kamal-Deem Sulemana (4 goals 1 assist) and Jeremy Doku are all out too. These injuries have not hampered their recent performances too much so Rennes will be confident of getting something here.

French Footy prediction: Montpellier 1 - Rennes 1

Strasbourg V Nice - Kicks off at 16:00 GMT Saturday 26th February

Strasbourg picked up a point with a 2-2 draw at Saint-Étienne last week. Les Coureurs are 4th in the table and would leapfrog Nice in to 3rd if they win here. They are having a fantastic season and are scoring regularly. Strasbourg are the leagues second highest scorers after 25 games on 48 goals. Only PSG have more with 53. The goals at Saint Étienne came courtesy of striker Habib Diallo (now on 9 league goals) and young centre back Lucas Perrin who got his first for the club. Perrin is having a decent season and s to be enjoying life in the Grand Est on loan from Marseille.

The 23 year old finished with a nicely taking volley from a free kick and was praised by his manager. The option to buy him at the end of the season for 1.5 Million Euros is looking inevitable. It’s just one loss in seven now for Strasbourg who are looking now like a strong bet for European qualification. Influential veteran midfielder Dimitri Liénard (2 goals 2 assists) is suspended for this game.

After two disappointing league performances resulting in losses, at home to Clermont and away to Lyon, Nice won last weekend. The narrow 1-0 victory was enough to ensure they stay in third place narrowing the gap with thrMarseille to just a point. Despite the victory coming from just a single goal Les Aiglons were well worth their victory. They dominated the game and looked a threat throughout particularly with the movement of striker Andy Delort and winger Justin Kluivert. Kluivert it was who scored, skipping on to a pass and flipping the ball in from a tight angle.

That was the Dutchman’s third goal of the season. The 22 year old has only featured in 15 league games this season due to injury. It’s tempting to wonder if Nice would be doing even better had he been more available as he is a constant outlet for them. His pace and skill fitting ideally with Nice’s counter attacking style. As well as injuries to wing back Youcef Atal (broken collarbone) and left back Jordan Amavi (knee) Nice will be without centre back Jean-Cair Todibo due to suspension. French Footy prediction: Strasbourg 1 - Nice 1

PSG V Saint Étienne - Kicks off at 20:00 GMT Saturday 26th February

After a huge midweek Champions League victory over Real Madrid (1-0), PSG were brought crashing down to Earth on Saturday evening. The 3-1 loss at Nantes, just their second league defeat of the season, was no freak defeat. The loss highlighted the lacklustre performances Paris have been showing all too often in this league campaign. Mauricio Pochettino‘s team dominated possession and created plenty of chances. They struggled however with Nantes’ high pressing and quick counter attacks, the latter creating numerous chances themselves. Losing 3-0 at half time PSG did rally early in the second half scoring early through Neymar Jr. The goal came after a sublime ball in the area from Messi found the Brazilian who finished well for his 4th league goal of the season. When Mbappe won a penalty on 59 minutes it looked like the comeback was on. Neymar hit the spot kick so tamely though it was easily saved.

In terms of the title race the defeat matters little to the Parisians who remain 13 points clear at the top of the table. It does keep questions coming up about how much Pochettino can get out of this squad and how he turns them in to a team rather than a collection of individuals. If they win the Champions League as well as Ligue 1 he will be forgiven. If they don’t the PSG board may lose patience with the lack of Galactico quality football that is expected. The perennially injured Sergio Ramos is still out with a calf problem whilst Leandro Paredes has a groin injury and Marco Verratti is injured.

Pascal Dupraz is turning Saint Étienne around in what was until recently a diabolical season for Les Verts. In the seven league games he’s taken charge of since taking over Dupraz has won three, lost three (narrowly) and now drawn one.

The three wins and draw have come all in a row so show the impact the 59 year old has had on Les Stephanois. Rock bottom of the table for so long Saint Étienne are now 16th. The situation remains perilous as only one point separates them from the bottom three. There is more than hope now though that they can get out of trouble. Dupraz is getting more out of his senior players than Claude Puel did. A fact highlighted by attacking midfielder Ryad Boudebouz getting more game time. It was Boudebouz that scored the opening goal in the 2-2 draw against Strasbourg last week. Striker Wahbi Khazri, another senior player got tgg he e second to take his tally to 9 league goals. Khazri is a doubt for this game with an ankle problem whilst defenders Saidou Sow and Yvan Macon are ruled out through injury.

French Footy prediction: PSG 1 - Saint Étienne 1