Friday and Saturdays results:
Montpellier 2 Rennes 4
(Oyongo 19, Wahi 41 - Terrier 8, Bourigeaud 15, Laborde 52 (P), Majer 84)
Nice 0 - Strasbourg 0
PSG 3 - St Etienne 1
(Mbapppe 42,47, Danilo Pereira 52 - Bouanga 16)
Monaco V Reims - Kicks off at 12:00 GMT - Live on BT Sport 3
Monaco’s decent form continued with a 1-1 draw at Bordeaux last week. Although they may be disappointed with not beating a team who are bottom of the table Les Monegasques are now five games unbeaten and have only one loss in 11 games including their cup run. As well as being in the semi finals of the Coupe De France they lie 6th in the league. They can’t really afford to lose with Nantes and Lyon behind them only on goal difference. Phillipe Clement’s team did show a lot of character in the game at Bordeaux. After going 1-0 down their influential young holding midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni was sent off for two dubious yellow cards. The 22 year old received his marching orders on 34 minutes. Yet Monaco rallied and equalised in the second half forcing a bizarre own goal, creating plenty of chances and having more possession with ten men. With the same application in this game Monaco will be confident of getting a win here. As well as Tchouaméni, defender Caio Henrique is also suspended.
Reims picked up a valuable point last week with a 1-1 draw at home to Brest. Defender Wout Faes gave his side an early lead with a great header direct from a corner. That was the Belgian’s fourth goal of the season.
Faes had an eventful afternoon. He was beaten for the equaliser then gave away a penalty. Thankfully for him his goalkeeper, Predrag Rajković, saved the penalty then another two shots resulting from the rebound. In truth Reims were a little lucky to get a point as Brest also hit the woodwork twice. The point came at a price with top scorer Hugo Ekitike limping off after 16 minutes with a hamstring injury. According to L’Equipe the injury will keep the 19 year old out for at least a month. It’s a huge blow to Reims who already have a significant injury list; Defenders Ghislain Konan, Thomas Foket and Andrew Gravillon remain out whilst Yunis Abdelhamid is suspended. Midfielders Moreto Cassama (2 goals), Jens Cajuste, Valon Berisha, Moussa Doumbia and Arber Zenelli are unavailable as is forward El Bilal Toure. Manager Oscar Garcia has his work cut out putting together a team that can get something at Monaco.
French Footy prediction: Monaco 1 - Reims 0
Metz V Nantes - Kicks off at 14:00 GMT
Metz picked up a point at Lille last week drawing 0-0. A valuable point perhaps but one that comes at a huge cost. Manager Frédéric Antonetti was involved in a touchline brawl with Lille Sporting Coordinator Sylvain Armand at the end of the game. Antonetti was shown a red card for the third match this season and has since been given a 10 match ban (3 matches with reprieve).
The puts Metz in 21 points in 18th place but with only a single point separating the bottom four. A win could propel them as high as 16th if other results go their way. It’s hard to win however when you don’t score and Les Grenats have only scored once in the last four games. Indeed against Lille they didn’t manage a single shot on target. They are also missing players with midfielder Boubakar Traore suspended and defenders Sofiane Alakouch and Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik plus top scorers Fabien Centonze and Nicolas De Préville injured. They are coming up against a resurgent team here so it’s difficult to see them winning.
Nantes had their best result of the season so far last Saturday night beating PSG 3-1 at home. Their aggressive high press, strong ball winning and quick counter attacks were too much for Paris to cope with. First half goals from striker Randal Kolo Muani, wing back Quentin Merlin and attacking midfielder Ludovic Blas (from the penalty spot) was no less than Les Canaris deserved.
Antoine Kombouaré has turned his teams fortunes around. Nantes have gone from a lot of people’s relegation candidates to pushing for a place in Europe. They lie 7th in the table with a win potentially putting them up to 5th. This is a big week for Les Nantais with their Coupe De France semi final against Monaco coming up on Wednesday. They only have two players missing with injury; right back Fabio da Silva and midfielder Samuel Moutoussamy. I hope they are not too distracted by the Cup game and go for the win here.
French Footy prediction: Metz 0 - Nantes 1
Clermont V Bordeaux- Kicks off at 14:00 GMT - Live on BT Sport 3
Clermont ate coming off a huge result after 2-0 at 2nd placed Marseille last weekend. They opened the scoring when a simple ball over the top was latched on to by right back Akim Zedadka. Zedadka found Mohamed Bayo on the edge of the box who smashed in his tenth goal of the season.
It was a fantastic goal and Les Lanciers managed to limit Marseille to few clear cut chances. After 84 minutes midfield substitute Jim Allevinah headed in his first league goal direct from a Jason Berthomier corner. It might have been 3-0 had Saîf-Eddine Khaoui done better with a close range shot. This was no fluke. It was a good performance and sees Clermont stay in 15th place but with a six point cushion over the bottom four. A point here against one of those four sides would be another decent result. Defenders Alidu Seidu and Jean-Claude Billong are unavailable for this match due to suspension and injury respectively.
Bordeaux picked up a point last week in manager David Guion’s first game in charge. Guion has a reputation for being good defensively and set his team up with five at the back. It was Bordeaux who took the lead through a Rémi Oudin volley. That was the Frenchman’s fourth goal of the season. Monaco’s equaliser was somewhat fortuitous as a shot was headed away by Anel Ahmedhodžić against the back of Marcelo’s head and flew back in to the goal. Bordeaux had chances to score a second but couldn’t make the most of their man advantage after Monaco had a man sent off on 34 minutes. It was a point earned though and Guion was positive about his new team‘s display.
The 54 year old was quoted by Ligue1.com as saying "The first half was good from us and we executed everything we worked on in training during the week, I saw good organisation, defensive coordination and a real focus from my team. We limited Monaco to very few opportunities and apart from Marcelo's unfortunate own goal, we were rarely in any danger. We gave ourselves a great opportunity with Rémi's (Oudin) goal but we just couldn't hold on." At least Les Bordelais have something to build on. Despite being bottom a win could get them out of the bottom three. Bordeaux are still missing striker Alberth Elis (8 goals), midfielder Fransergio and goalkeeper Benoit Costil through injury.
French Footy prediction: Clermont 1 - Bordeaux 1
Brest V Lorient- Kicks off at 14:00 GMT
Picking up a point at Reims last week wasn't a bad result for Brest but they were unlucky not to win. They hit the woodwork twice and missed a penalty through Algerian midfielder Youcef Belaïli. It was a positive performance however and manager Michel Der Zakarian will be delighted that striker Martín Satriano scored his third goal in four appearances and in just his second start for the club. The Uruguayan might be the regular goalscorer Brest have been missing. He certainly seems to be enjoying life in Brittany since arriving on loan from Inter Milan in January. Perhaps he'll take the next penalty awarded.
With no new injuries or suspensions Brest will go in to this Breton Derby with confidence.
Lorient lost 1-0 at home to Montpellier last week which keeps them in the bottom three. Even a point would have seen them climb up to 17th but Les Merlus are still in the thick of a relegation scrap. They were always in the game aga Montpellier but struggled to create clear chances and struggled at times to clear the ball effectively. That led to several chances for Montpellier and ultimately the goal. Veteran goalkeeper Matthieu Dreyer, who recently replaced the struggling Paul Nardi, had another good game. The 32 year old made several good saves but it wasn't enough to keep his third consecutive clean sheet.
Veteran defender Jeremy Morel is in contention for this game after a prolonged period of injury. Midfielder Fabien Lemoine and forward Stephane Diarra remain injured but should be back next week.
French Footy prediction: Brest 2 - Lorient 0
Angers V Lens - Kicks off at 14:00 GMT
After a good start to the season Angers are struggling. They have lost their last four games and have just one win in nine. Les Scoistes are also struggling to score goals hitting the net just twice in four games. After last week’s 5-2 loss at Marseille, both manager Gérald Baticle and senior players were quick to reiterate the need to keep calm and not panic. However Angers need a result here to stop the slide and be dragged in to a relegation battle they have not been part of during this campaign. Angers have the worst form of Ligue 1 in 2022 along with Bordeaux and Troyes. They will be without pacy winger Jimmy Cabot who picked up an ankle injury in last week’s defeat at Nice.
Lens were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Lyon last weekend. Jonathan Clauss opened the scoring on 13 minutes with a shot from a tight angle to get his third goal of the season. The wing back is having a great season also weighing in with 9 assists.
Les Sangs Et Ors created chances throughout the game but gave up the majority of possession to Lyon. When Lyon equalised in the second half Lens were unable to break them down. The draw sees them lie 10th in the league. That’s not bad for a club only promoted back to Ligue 1 the season before last. However Franck Haise’s side were really looking like they were pushing for Europe earlier this season so their current position is a little disappointing. If they want to stay in the hunt for a Europa League or Conference place they really need to win here.
French Footy prediction: Angers 1 - Lens 2
Troyes V Marseille - Kicks off at 16:05 GMT - Live on BT Sport 2
Troyes were well beaten at Rennes last weekend losing 4-1. They’ve conceded 9 goals in the last two games only scoring two themselves both of which came from corners. Under Laurent Battles Troyes were rarely beaten by more than one goal so the last few matches must be a concern for new Coach Bruno Irles. They have just a solitary win in 9 games and are teetering over the bottom three by goal difference. To say that L’ESTAC are desperate for points is an understatement, particularly as other teams around the bottom like Clermont and Saint Étienne are getting results. Troyes are still without forwards Renaud Ripart, Gerson Rodriguez and Hyun-Jun Suk for this match.
Marseille had a terrible result last week losing 2-0 in front of their own fans to 15th placed Clermont. They remain second but have let Nice narrow the gap behind them to one point and failed to shrink the chasm that lies between them and first placed PSG. It's disappointing that just when you think Marseille are firing on all cylinders they implode. Nice are similar which is why there is no title race this year. It was a lacklustre display against a hard working and organised team. Valentin Rongier came closest to scoring for L’OM showing good footwork and shooting from range on a couple of occasions. Jorge Sampaoli's team dominated possession but couldn't make it count. Les Marseillais did manage to win Thursday night's Europa Conference 2nd leg against Qarabag FK. Goals from Pape Gueye, Matteo Guendouzi and Konrad de la Fuente put the Phoenicians through to the round of 16 where they will play Basle. It's in the league that Marseille really need to keep winning though to cement the second placed Champions League spot. They have no injuries or suspensions so must go for the win here against a struggling side.
Lyon V Lille - Kicks off at 19:45 GMT - Live on BT Sport 2
Lyon got a decent point at Lens last week and are on a nice run of just one defeat in 9 games including all competitions. Les Lyonnais dominated possession but only created two chances on goal, one of which was taken by Tino Kadewere for the equaliser. That was the 26 year old forwards first goal of the season.
Les Gones do seem to have a bit more about them since the signings of midfielders Romain Faivre and Tanguy Ndombele. It hasn't been a great season for them but they are still in the Europa League and still have a chance of European Qualification. They sit in 8th place but a win here could take them up to 5th.
Lille‘s 0-0 at home to Metz last week was, like their season generally, disappointing. Their problem is that the goals have dried up for strikers Burak Yilmaz and Jonathan David. The pair were so prolific last season but are nowhere near that kind of form. Les Dogues are not playing badly but don’t score enough. A fact highlighted by Lyon Manager Peter Bosz in preparation for this game. In regards to Lille’s midweek 2-0 Champion’s league defeat to Chelsea the Dutchman said “Lille played very well against Chelsea, pressing with lots of courage. They conceded a goal rapidly but then dominated. We saw their qualities. It has to be said , Lille played well.” These two clubs are well matched with only three places in the table and two points separating them. Lille have every incentive to go for the win here as they would overtake Lyon in the table and get back in to the race for Europe. Lille have no injuries but are missing midfielders Benjamin Andre and Edon Zhegrova through suspension.
French Footy prediction: Lille 2 V Lyon 2
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