PSG V Angers - Kicks off at 20:00 Friday 15th October
PSG took a full strength side to Rennes prior to the International break and came undone for the first time this season. In the weeks leading up to the game at Rennes PSG had sometimes been winning without playing brilliantly. This was the opposite, at least in the first half which they dominated but found themselves 1 - 0 down at half time. Mbappé had a clear chance that he put over the bar, Neymar missed a sitter and Messi clipped the bar with a clever free kick.
A minute in to the second half the Parisians found themselves two down. This was the biggest test Mauriccio Pochetinno's side had faced this season. They'd been behind in the current campaign twice before and come back to win but not by two goals. Unfortunately for them they came up short. Mbappé did find the net but it was ruled out for offside. Messi came close again with a free kick but it just wasn't enough. The Champions Elect had more possession and created 13 chances none of which were on target. That will be unusual this season but Paris must react well now with big games against Leipzig, Marseille and Lille coming up after this one. There is a chance that some of Paris's South American stars will not play here tonight or will start on the bench after being on International duty on Wednesday. We will have to see if Messi, Paredes, Neymar, Di Maria and Navas are included in the squad.
Angers continued their great start to this season under new manager Gérald Baticle with a home win over Metz in their last game. That was their fourth win of the season and they are sitting nicely in 4th place. Baticle has got his side well organised so it was a surprise to see his defence not marking from a set piece properly and conceding in the first ten minutes to Metz. Midfielder Thomas Mangani almost got his side back in to it but his free kick hit the bar. Angers came out strongly in the second half and equalised on 53 minutes. Jimmy Cabot won the ball in midfield, made a great run from the right then squared the ball across the goal for 17 year old Mohamed Cho to tap in from close range. Cabot showed great pace and determination to create what was Cho's second goal of the season. Goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni later made a complete mess of a clearance to gift Metz another goal. Bernardoni has made some decent saves this season but he is prone to a clanger and this was a completely avoidable error. Luckily for him his team mate Cabot was in the mood and put in another great cross in for Thomas Mangani to head in his third goal of the season. Jimmy Cabot now has four assists this season and is one of many positives for this team.
Finally in stoppage time Stephane Bahoken tapped in his second of the season from close range following a set piece. That was enough to give Les Scoistes their first win in four games. A draw here would be an unbelievable result for them but, as well as they've played this season, I can't see it happening for them.
French Footy prediction: PSG 2 V Angers 0
Clermont Foot V Lille - Kicks off at 16:00 Saturday 16th October
Clermont‘s point at Lorient in their last match was a decent result given the form Lorient are showing this season. They might have got the win given their performance in which had they more possession and created more clear chances than their hosts. Manager Pascal Gastien has his side playing a nice brand of attacking football in which they like to keep the ball then break quickly.
They like to use their wingers Rashani and Dossou which makes them good to watch. They just need to be more clinical. Mohamed Bayo opened the scoring on 15 minutes for his sixth goal of the season but he could have had more. He had a chance to make it 2-0 but shot straight at the Keeper. Gastien will be disappointed that his side conceded from Lorient's only shot on target. There were a lot of positives for Les Lanciers to take out of the game. After two defeats they got a valuable away point against an in form side, played well and probably deserved to win the game. Particularly as they had a late penalty shout. They sit 15th in the table, three points above 16th placed Bordeaux. Clermont were without attacking midfielder Saîf-Eddine Khaoui with a muscle injury and midfielder Jim Allevinah who has a thigh problem. Both will probably miss this game too but Gastien has a pretty settled squad to pick from.
Lille have turned their season around and whilst not looking quite like the champions they were last season are looking capable. Les Dogues convincingly beat Marseille in their last game 2 - 0 which became their third league win in a row. Les Lillois were impressive against Marseille and could have won by more. Jonathan Ikone hit the woodwork twice, Burak Yilmaz had a goal chalked off for offside and Jonathan David missed a good chance between scoring both goals of the game. David (pictured) is now on six goals for the season and showing the form that was a big factor in Lille becoming Champions last season.
There was more good news in that Renato Sanches made his first appearance since the first game of the season after a long injury lay off. Jocelyn Gourvennec will be looking for another victory here but will have one eye on Thursday's Europa League game at home to Sevilla. With only one point from two games in the Competition so far Lille really need to win this if they hope to progress from the group stage. Striker Burak Yilmaz's finishing has not been great in recent games but he has linked up well with Jonathan David. Unfortunately the Turkish International will be suspended for this match alongside left back Reinildo. We may see Timothy Weah start up front along side David as he did against Strasbourg recently. Clermont are not easy to beat at home but Lille are on a roll and I think that will continue this weekend.
French Footy prediction: Clermont 1 V Lille 2
Lyon V Monaco - Kicks off at 20:00 -Saturday 16th October - Live on BT Sport 3
Lyon’s draw in the Derby Rhone Alpes will be a big disappointment for Peter Bosz and his team. Lyon went in to the game in decent form having lost just once in their last eight games. Their opponents, local rivals Saint-Étienne, were on an awful run so Lyon were favourites despite playing away in front of a Partizan crowd. In what was a very close game it was Les Lyonnais who led at the break. Houssem Aouar, who'd earlier seen a gilt edged header well saved, showed his quality with a composed finish.
The young midfielder ran on to a great Lucas Paquetá ball then curled his shot around a defender for his first league goal of the season. Xherdan Shaqiri thought he'd put his side two up only for VAR to correctly rule the goal out for offside. The major turning point in the game occurred when Lyon Goalkeeper Anthony Lopes handled the ball outside of his area and was sent off. Shaqiri had to be sacrificed for substitute Keeper Julian Pollersbeck. The game remained fiercely contested but Saint-Étienne equalised from the penalty spot after Jason Denayer was judged to have handled in the area. The penalty has been hotly debated since the game but a decision for or against would have been controversial. Denayer did not intend to handle the ball but did have his hands up. The game finished 1 - 1 and Les Gones will now be without their first choice Keeper for this game. Lyon only have one win in four league games but they are not playing badly. In that time they had a narrow defeat at PSG and some excellent results in the Europa League. They have been playing without a recognised Striker as Moussa Dembele and Islam Slimani have been injured. Against Saint-Étienne Lucas Paquetá had to play up front. Whilst he did a decent job he's much more effective in midfield or in the number 10 role. Dembele is likely to miss this match too and Slimani is a doubt. I still think Lyon are one of the teams to beat this season but missing Dembele is costing them. Left back Emerson should come back in to the side after his harsh sending off against Lorient a few weeks ago.
Monaco's good run continued with a 3 - 0 victory over Bordeaux last week. Les Monegasques completely out played Bordeaux and scored three for the third league game running. They are unbeaten in six games and are getting the best out of Wissam Ben Yedder. Last season's top scorer for his club (22 goals) now has five goals in as many games. Three of them have been penalties but he is on form and generally playing well. Les Monegasques had too much for Bordeaux at the Stade Louis II and won convincingly creating a host of chances. A lot of Monaco's positive play this season has come from highly rated central midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni.
It was the 21 year old French International who opened the scoring on 35 minutes for his first league goal of the season. Tchouaméni, who is apparently attracting interest from Chelsea, later hit the cross bar with a shot from distance. Monaco went two up when Ben Yedder slipped a ball in for Aleksandr Golovin to slot in his second of the League campaign. The Russian midfielder later went off with an injury and was replaced by another of Monaco's exciting youngsters. Sofiane Diop came on and just seven minutes later won a penalty which Ben Yedder converted. It's a shame that Niko Kovač will not have Diop and Tchouaméni available for this game as both are suspended. Monaco will also be without Golovin who is still carrying the groin injury that forced him off during the match against Bordeaux. Both sides are missing players here so it's hard to predict. If Lyon had Dembele playing I'd fancy them to win. This is a big game for both teams who have designs on qualifying for the Champions League.
French Footy prediction: Lyon 2 V Monaco 2
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