Nice V Rennes - Kicks off at 16:00 GMT
Nice had a very disappointing result prior to the International break losing 2-1 at Marseille. The two clubs have been competing with each other for second place in Ligue 1 all season long. Nice's best chance of the first half came to Calvin Stengs after good work on the left from Melvin Bard. The Dutchman volleyed high and wide. In the second half Les Aiglons had the ball in the back of the net quickly after a nice move between Gouiri, Stengs and Delort. The goal however was correctly judged to be offside. It wasn't to be Nice's night. At 1-0 down Andy Delort was impeded in the area but no penalty was given. Les Nicois went 2-0 down later in the game and only managed to pull one back in stoppage time through Mario Lemina. It was a bad result for Christophe Galtier’s team as it let Marseille stay in second and puts a bit of distance between the two sides.
With Rennes winning again Nice find themselves in 4th place just behind the Bretons. Nice aren’t playing badly but are without a league win in four games. They’ve played some of the best teams in the league in that time (Strasbourg, PSG, Marseille), so could do without the visit of third placed Rennes this weekend. At least it gives them a chance to leapfrog their opponents with a home win. This is another tough game and likely to be close. Nice have no suspensions or injuries to worry about.
Rennes are playing some fantastic attacking football at the moment. They were unlucky to go out of the Europa Conference League to Leicester over two legs and are the most in form team in Ligue 1. Les Rennais have won their last five league games the last one a 6-1 home dismantling of Metz. Metz are having an awful season but are hard to break down and had kept four clean sheets in a row prior to playing at Roazhon Park. The goals just keep coming from Rennes. Gaetan Laborde has 14 league goals this season but was rested for the game against Metz. He was replaced in the starting eleven by Serhou Guirassy who scored a hat trick. Martin Terrier scored two, one from the spot, to take his tally to 16 league goals. The 25 year old striker is having a great season and is second and is just one goal behind Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco) in the Ligue 1 goalscorers chart.
Les Rennais are the top scorers in Ligue 1. Bruno Genesio will be confident of getting another result here despite the following injuries; Alfred Gomis (goalkeeper), Loic Bade and Jeremy Gelin (Centre backs), Jeremy Doku (winger) and Kamal-Deen Sulemana (forward).
Lille V Bordeaux - Kicks off at 18:00 GMT
Lille had a narrow but important victory at Nantes in their last game winning 1-0. The victory sees them sixth in the table and right in the hunt for European qualification. Something that has looked unlikely for large parts of the season. Les Dogues have been largely inconsistent during this campaign but are on a great run of six games unbeaten with five wins and one draw and no goals conceded. Le Lillois strarted brightly at Nantes attacked with pace. Young Englishman Angel Gomes looked particularly bright running at the opposition with pace and skill. The 21 year old from Edmonton had a rare start, playing in a number 10 re just behind striker Jonathan David. Gomes was a threat and forced Nantes goalkeeper Alban Lafont in to a good save with a fierce strike from distance.
The goal came on 41 minutes following a corner. Amadou Onana fired in for his first goal in Ligue 1. It was a close game but despite Timothy Weah being sent off after 64 minutes and Nantes hitting the post twice, Les Lillois managed to hold on. Jocelyn Gourvennec must be delighted with his team's consistency, finally. and particularly with six clan sheets in a row. Against the bottom of the league club the Breton Manager should be confident of another win here. Weah and fellow midfielder Xeka are suspended for this one but Lille have influential players injured; Centre back Sven Botman (3 goals 1 assist) and midfielder Renato Sanches (1 goal 5 assists).
Bordeaux had a miserable afternoon in their last league game at home to Montpellier. Not only did they lose 2-0 but it was to a team that went down to nine men in the first half! Les Bordelais haven’t kept a clean sheet all season. Now they are struggling to score goals too. If that wasn’t enough there was an angry exchange between Goalkeeper Benoit Costil and Bordeaux’s Ultras Supporters group Les Ultramarines. Costil reacted to insults from the crowd by rubbing his fingers together in suggestion that they'd been bought off by the current owners to not protest against them.
This led to the supporters group writing an open letter accusing Costil of racist behaviour towards staff within the club. The latter accusation allegedly coming from an ex employee of the club. Costil has since said he’ll take the Ultamarines to court. The keeper has been backed publicly by his teammates and Manager David Guion. Additional to this former manager Vladimir Petkovic is looking for 10 million Euros in compensation after his sacking a few months ago. Unfortunately the turmoil doesn't stop there. Ouest France reported on Friday (1/04/22) that a young player of the club stole a pair of shoes from a fellow player and sold them on the internet. The identity of the player is not widely known but according to the French newspaper he has been heavily fined by the club. A horrendous week for Les Girondins de Bordeaux in a horrendous season. Defenders Marcelo and Anel Ahmedhodzic and midfielder Josuha Guilavogi are suspended for this one whilst Jimmy Briand and Tom Lacoux remain injured. French Footy prediction: Lille 1 - Bordeaux 0
Saint Étienne V Marseille ****Match has been cancelled due to Snow******* - Kicks off at 20:00 - Live on BT Sport 3
Saint Étienne remain in the bottom three but picked up a valuable point in their last league game. The 1-1 home draw against Troyes was perhaps a little disappointing as the latter remain three places and two points ahead of them. However Les Verts have a great momentum going with only one loss in seven games. They looked dead and buried six weeks ago but really look now like they have the means to stay up. Troyes scored early on I. The game but Saint Étienne dominated possession and created a series of chances. They eventually equalised when Mahdi Camara was fouled in the box and Ryad Boudebouz smashed in the resulting spot kick. The 32 year old now has three league goals for the season and is enjoying his football since Pascal Dupraz took over in December.
Les Stephanois had chances to win the game through Denis Bouanga who pulled his shot wide and Arnaud Nordin who missed with a header. It was an opportunity missed and they face stronger opponents this weekend but their is real belief among playing staff and fans that Saint Étienne will stay up. Les Verts have the following players out but should have a similar starting eleven to the one that played against Troyes; Defenders Yvan Macon and Saidou Sow, midfielders Falaye Sacko and Yvan Neyou and forward Romain Hamouma. Striker Enzo Crivelli is yet to play for the club since signing as a free transfer in January. He remains a doubt for this game.
Marseille had arguably their most important win of the season so far before the International break, beating Nice 2-1 at home. Both sides have been battling for second place in Ligue 1 all season. Les Marseillais opened the scoring after a clever one two between Cengiz Ünder and Dimitri Payet resulted in the former being fouled in the box. There was a brief discussion between Arkadiusz Milik and Payet about who would take the spot kick. Milik came away with the ball and calmly slotted in his 7th league goal of the season but 20th in all competitions. Nice were always in the game and should have had a penalty when Saliba ran in to the back of Delort. However Marseille survived the penalty scare and took a 2-0 lead when substitute Cedric Bakambu scored with a great header at the far post. That was the Congolese's third goal in six league games for the club after signing as a free transfer in January. It was a great cross from Brazilian midfielder Gerson who is really showing his class.
Nice pulled one back in stoppage time but L’OM took the points. A big victory that put them back into second place above Rennes. The win also reduced the deficit with PSG to 12 points although its unlikely any title race will materialise with only nine games left. Luan Peres is suspended for this match whilst fellow centre back Leonardo Balerdi is out for the season with a shoulder injury. Arkadiusz Milik is out with a hamstring hamstring injury which is a big blow to Phoenicians.
French Footy prediction: Saint Étienne 1 - Marseille 1
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