Results so far this weekend:
Lille 0 - Saint-Étienne 0
Montpellier 0 - Nice 0
Troyes 1 - Nantes 0
(Ugbo 43)
PSG V Bordeaux - Kicks off at 12:00 GMT - Live on BT Sport 3
Well it's been a bad week for PSG. They lost 1-0 at Nice then saw a 1-0 aggregate lead get turned around in Madrid on Wednesday night. Paris didn't play well at Nice last Sunday only creating two shots on target and were undone by Nice's counter attacking play. Perhaps they had one eye on the Champions League Quarter Final round of 16 tie coming up but a lot of their league performances have been lacklustre. Mauricio Pochettino's team are running away with the league but often their side do the minimum to get the result. Las Sunday at the Allianz Riviera it caught up with them. Neymar Jr was robbed of the ball deep in Nice's half and PSG couldn't cope with the speed of the counter attack. There is no doubt they missed the suspended Kylian Mbappé who is so often the difference for them in games, as he was the previous week against Saint Étienne. Mbappé looked to be the difference again in the match at the Bernabeu in midweek. He made it 2-0 on aggregate on 39 minutes and had the ball in the net twice more but they were ruled offside. PSG had been by far the best team in the first half but a Karim Benzema hat trick in 17 minutes knocked PSG out. Goalkeeper Donnarumma failed to clear the ball for the first goal but felt he was fouled in the lead up. The goal stood though and PSG now have to see out the season by winning Ligue 1 with a bit of flair. RMC Sport have reported that the PSG Ultras are to stage a protest at this game as they are unhappy at how the club is being run. Their have been protests prior to this but they were put on hold for the Champions League home tie to Madrid.
Above banners state "Disrespectful leaders", "Players without desire", "Shirts without our Colours" - "The only treble for PSG this year."
In the home game against Rennes the Paris Ultras Collective left the Auteuil stand vacant for the first part of the match. They have accused the club of "insulting fans” and “piling up stars like a spoiled child, without concern for a coherent sporting plan” while “offering something that we can no longer support." PSG could do with a win and performance here, not for their league success but to show their quality, some unity and get the fans back on side.
Bordeaux had a horrendous result last week losing 2-0 at home to fellow relegation battlers Troyes. Both goals came from penalties but Bordeaux struggled to cope with Troyes' pace. The first penalty looked to be saved by stand in goalkeeper Gaëtan Poussin but it somehow squirmed underneath him. The second was hotly contested from the sidelines and led to assistant coach Yaroslavl Pasil being sent to the stands. Les Girondins had more of the ball but couldn't score which to be fair is unusual for them They have goals in the team and have score more than any other side in the bottom eight. They just concede way too many and have the worst defensive record in Europe. New Manager David Guion, in charge for the last two games, lamented his sides lack of technique particularly in playing a final ball. It’s hard to see Bordeaux getting out of this. A win could be enough to get them out of the bottom three but it’s very unlikely they’ll get it here. Bordeaux are still missing first choice goalkeeper with a calf injury and defender Ricardo Mangas and midfielder Tom Lacoux out until mid March. One positive is that Alberth Elis is back from injury.
Since joining on loan from Boavista in the summer the Honduran has scored nine goals in seventeen appearances. It will be interesting if Guion plays both Elis and fellow striker Hwang Ui-Jo up front together.
French Footy prediction: PSG 2 - Bordeaux 0
Strasbourg V Monaco- Kicks off at 14:00 GMT - Live on BT Sport ESPN
Strasbourg have drawn the last three games but are on a good run of form that has seen them lose just once in nine matches. They remain 5th in the table and continue to defy expectations. Strasbourg dominated last week’s game and Reims with attack after attack. They eventually got the breakthrough when Jean-Ricner Bellegarde smashed in a cleared ball from outside the box. That was just the 23 year old's 2nd goal of the season. Strasbourg must have thought they’d probably won this but were undone by a set piece that was bundled over the line on 84 minutes. If they can carry on like this then Julien Stéphan would have to be considered for Ligue 1 Manager of the year.
Les Coureurs have no new injuries or suspensions to worry about so will be difficult to beat on this form.
Monaco put their recent defeats in league and cup behind them last weekend with a victory at Marseille. Whilst being outplayed for large parts it was Les Monegasques that scored the all important goal to take the points.A clever through ball by Wissam Ben Yedder found Kevin Volland who struck his shot against the post. Gerson Martins was on hand to stab in the rebound. It was an important win for Phillipe Clement’s side and just the third league victory in the eight games since the Belgian took over. That was followed by a disappointing Europa League loss at Braga on Thursday night. The 2-0 deficit will be hard to turn around in the second leg just four days after this match. Monaco have done well in Europe up to this point but they are struggling with the regular games now. The European tie could have a bearing on this game. One because Strasbourg will be fresher than them and two because Monaco will have one eye on the upcoming second leg. Clement has no new injuries or suspensions to consider but may rotate a few players for this game with the Braga match in mind.
French Footy prediction: Strasbourg 1 - Monaco 0
Angers V Reims - Kicks off at 14:00 GMT
Angers are slowly but surely being dragged in to a relegation battle they’ve had no part of in all season. There are still five points separating them from the bottom three but Les Scoistes are in awful form. They have now lost six in a row and have just one win in ten games. Gerald Baticle’s side are also struggling to score goals, just six in the last ten league games. Against Rennes last weekend they had just two shots on goal. Earlier in the season Angers were stubborn and difficult to beat. Now they are to easily beaten. A win here would really ease the nerves, and would see them over take Reims in the table on goal difference. A win would take the pressure of Baticle and his team. Club President Said Chabane back his Manager this week in an interview with The Team. “I have never let go of a Coach because of his results.” “The adventure ends when we no longer hear each other speak. There, with Gerald, we are on the same wavelength.”
Angers have midfielder Mathias Pereira Lage back from injury and striker Mohame-Ali Cho back from suspension. Winger Jimmy Cabot remains out with a sprained ankle. Cabot has been a big miss as his pace allows Angers to hit quickly on the counter attack.
Reims are in a bit of form with two draws and a win in their last three games and just one loss in five. Winning at Monaco then drawing at home to a very good Strasbourg side were terrific results for the Champagne Club. The point against Strasbourg was sealed by young Swedish midfielder Jean Cajuste. The 22 year old bundled in Arber Zeneli's free kick. That was Cajuste's first goal for the club in three appearances after signing from FC Midtylland in January.
Les Rouges et Blancs are 13th in the table, eight points off the bottom three. Oscar Garcia has put together a nice footballing side who can counter attack quickly. They will surely stay up which is a huge achievement given their lack of signings and established players.
French Footy prediction: Angers 1 - Reims 1
Metz V Lens - Kicks off at 14:00 GMT
Metz had a devastating loss last weekend in the big relegation clash at Saint Étienne. The defeat left Metz 19th in the table and let Saint Étienne move up to16th and four points away from them. Les Grenats were awarded a penalty near the end of the game when Nicolas de Préville was bundled over in the box. VAR then ruled out the spot kick due to an earlier foul by Metz in the build up. However aggrieved Metz may have been by the decision they were outplayed in what was a crucial game. These are miserable times for Metz. No win in six with just a single goal scored in that time. Only four victories all season and a Manager, Frédéric Antonetti, consigned to the stands for a recent touchline brawl. Unfortunately for them it’s hard to see them getting anything here either. Midfielders Vincent Pajot and Ibrahim Amadou are suspended whilst Fabien Centonze is still injured.
Lens’ patchy form continued with a surprising loss at home to Brest last weekend. They started the season so well and play fantastic football at times but have really struggled to sustain consistency since September. Les Sangs est Ors dominated the game in Brittany last weekend but couldn’t find the net. Lens had 20 shots in the game 6 of which were on target. Kalimuendo, Kakuta, Sotoca and free kick specialist Jonathan Clauss all tested the goalkeeper to no avail. Brest hit on one of their rare but effective counterattacks minutes and scored, With 3o minutes remaining Lens continued to dominate but couldn't get back in to the game. The defeat leaves them 10th in the table yet only 4 points off a European place. Franck Haise's team came within a whisker of qualifying for Europe last season. This year the competition to qualify is so much fiercer. With eleven games to go only 7 points seperates 3rd and 10th. Whilst the title race is dead the fight for Europe is exciting. Lens have the set up to do well should they qualify. They have a good side, play exciting attacking football and have fantastic home support. It is great to see the Stade Bollaert-Delelis when it's packed to it's 38,058 capacity.
Lens have three forwards out for this game. Przemysław Frankowski is suspended whilst Corentin Jean and Wesley Said (5 goals) remain injured. Franck Haise a good squad to choose from though and if they are more clinical his team should win this one.
French Footy prediction: Metz 0 - Lens 1
Clermont V Lorient - Kicks off at 14:00 GMT
Clermont were hammered 4-0 at Lille last week. That defeat followed a patch of decent form in which they only lost once in five games whilst beating Marseille and Rennes. It was a bad afternoon for Les Lanciers who were easily beaten and had midfielder Salis Abdul Samed sent off. Clermont were only one goal down when Samed saw red but had been outplayed anyway. Once down to ten men they completely capitulated. Star striker Mohamed Bayo (goals 1 assist) was a big miss with a hip injury and without him Clermont only managed one shot on target. They remain 15th and four points from safety but really need something from this game as Lorient are just four points behind them. Lose this and Clermont are really back in the relegation scrap. Manager Pascal Gastien has worked wonders with this team, first getting them promoted to Ligue 1 for the first ever and secondly for making them competitive in this league.
This could be a tough game without Bayo and defender Florent Ogier is out with Covid.
Lorient were well beaten last 4-1 at home by Lyon. They were outplayed in the first half and went in 2-0 down at the break. In the second half Les Merlus started to make a game of it and pulled one back on 57. Striker Terem Moffi headed in his fourth goal of the season following a corner.
Lorient's hard work was scuppered when they conceded just a minute later and the game was effectively over. Christophe Pélissier's side remain 18th in the table with the reali issue being their lack of goals. Last season the front two of Moffi and Armand Armand Laurienté were scoring plenty but in this campaign the goals have dried up. The Bretons have the lowest goals scored in Ligue 1 with just 22 in 27 games. If they are going to stay up then that is the problem that Pélissier needs to address most. A win here would take them to within a point of Clermont and take them out of the bottom three. A draw would suit the home side much more.
French Footy prediction: Clermont 1 - Lorient 1
Lyon V Rennes - Kicks off at 16:05 GMT - Live on BT Sport 3
As mentioned above Lyon cast Lorient aside pretty easily last weekend. It was a sound perofrmance and the victory keeps them in contention for a European place. Lyon are looking more balanced and consistent since they signed midfielders Tanguy Ndombele and Romain Faivre in January Although they lost their previous match at Lille they played well and were unlucky. Faivre got his first goals for the club at Lorient. The first a nice turn and tidy finish the second a sublime chip when one on one with the keeper.
That's ten goals and 6 assists in all competitions this season for Brest and Lyon combined. Lyon followed that victory with another of huge importance in midweek. They travelled to Porto on Wednesday night for the Europa League round of 16 1st leg. Lucas Paqueta’s goal was enough to secure victory and a slight advantage for the second leg. There is no away goal rule on Europe this season so the tie is far from over. However they are in the best position of any French club left in Europe and have a great chance of going through. Manager Peter Bosz has few injury headaches this week. Sinaly Diomande has an ankle injury and Jerome Boateng remains out with a hamstring problem. The latter is not a major miss as, experienced as he is, Boateng has not played well since joining the club and was dropped prior to being injured. Rayan Cherki and Lenny Pintor are long term injuries.
Rennes had mixed fortunes this week. A comfortable 2-0 home win over Angers sees them 4th in the table and within three points of Nice in second. The goals came from winger Benjamin Bourigeaud (now on 5 league goals 6 assists) and striker Gaetan Laborde (11 league goals 6 assists). Les Rennais have plenty of goals in their squad. Unfortunately they couldn’t score in their Europa Conference tie at Leicester on Thursday. Bruno Genesio’s team gave a good account of themselves with quick, tidy passing moves. Left back Adrien Truffert and winger Jeremy Doku cause Leicester problems but Laborde and Bourigeaud both squandered good early chances. Little mistakes by Rennes were costly and they struggled to defend Leicester’s pacy counter attacks. The Bretons were unlucky to lose 2-0. They are not out of the tie but its going to take something special to turn it round in the second leg. This is an intriguing game with Rennes going for a Champions League spot and Lyon for the Europa.
French Footy prediction: Lyon 2 - Rennes 2
Brest V Marseille - Kicks off at 19:45 GMT - Live on BT Sport 2
Brest did what they do best in their game at Lens last weekend. The Bretons let Lens have the ball, soaked up the pressure then hit on the counter attack. Franck Honorat finished off one of Brest’s rare counters with a clever chip. That was Honorat’s 9th goal of the season and enough to secure all three points. It must be frustrating to be a Brest fan see your team without the ball for such long periods of the game. Michel Der Zakarian’s tactics can be effective though and when they do counter with pace it is good to watch. The Bretons are 12th in the table and in no danger of relegation at all. Defender Brendan Chardonnet is suspended for this game whilst Ronael Pierre Gabriel and forward Rafiki Said are injured.
Marseille are having an odd season. They are third in the table and still in the Europa Conference but not playing brilliantly and dropping points where perhaps they shouldn’t. They’ve haven’t won their last three league games losing at home to Monaco and lowly Clermont and only drawing at relegation threatened Troyes. There is now a real disconnect between the fans and Manager Jorge Sampaoli.
Prior to last weeks home defeat to Monaco the Dodgers Supporters Group posted an open letter on their website lamenting the following: The dropping of long term goalkeeper and Captain Steve Mandanda, the failure to create chances for clinical finisher Arkadiusz Milik and the constant changing of the starting eleven for no obvious reason. The final two points I agree with. The first I'm not so sure. Lopez has kept a lot of clean sheets, is better than Mandanda with the ball at his feet and the latter wasn't on form when he was dropped. Marseille don't look far away from being a very good team. The nucleus is there with the skill and pace of Saliba in the heart of the defenze, the industry and energy of Guendouzi in midfield, the skill and delivery of Payet and the finishing of Milik. Sampoali needs to find a way of supporting Polish striker and getting more consistency out of his team. If the Argentinian Coach leaves would loanees Saliba and Guendouzi stay or be sold to other teams by their parent clubs? Marseille had a good win midweek in the European tie over Basel. The 2-1 win, both goals scored by Milik gives them an advantage for the second leg. It should be noted though they are only in the Europa Conference because they were knocked out of the Europa League. L'OM are at a crossroads. Lose here and the pressure on Sampaoli intensifies. Win and they continue their quest for a Champion's League spot.
There are no injuries or suspensions for Sampaoli so he must go for the win. It won't be easy against a stubborn, counter attacking Brest side.
French Footy prediction: Brest 1 - Marseille 1
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