After some interesting midweek matches and results we have another round of games over Saturday and Sunday. Unfortunately there was more crowd trouble in midweek. This time it was between Angers and Marseille fans following their 0 - 0 draw. Ligue 1 is going to have to stamp on this as we've seen it at Montpellier, Nice and Lens already this season. The Clubs are going to have manage things better as there seems to be a lack of Stewards and Policing at these games. After a huge period of not being able to have fans in stadiums due to a pandemic it's been sad to see normally booming stadiums like Lens and Nice empty because of punishments given out following crowd trouble. Lets see what today brings.
Saint-Étienne V Nice - Kicks off at 1600, Saturday 25th September.
Things are going from bad to worse at Saint-Etienne. After starting the season with three creditable draws they have now had four losses on the trot. The latest loss Monaco (3 - 1) was compounded by their young Goalkeeper Etienne Green being sent off on 33 minutes. The young Keeper has done well this season but made a rash challenge outside of the box. Claude Puel had to sacrifice attacking midfielder Arnaud Nordin for substitute Keeper Stefan Bajic. Les Verts did well to get back in to the game with ten men when just eight minutes after Green had his marching orders, Denis Bouanga equalised. It was the Winger’s second goal of the season and demonstrated the fight that Saint Etienne do have in their team. The goal followed some tenacious work on the left hand side from Striker Jean-Phillipe Krasso. Krasso got his first start of the season ahead of new signing Ignacio Ramirez. If Krasso continues to make a nuisance of himself in the opposition box perhaps he’ll get more play time than he did last season.
It's tough times for Les Stephanois and playing a strong Nice team is not going to help. Next week they play in form local rivals Lyon which will be tough too. I don't see Saint-Étienne picking up any points from these games but I still think they have enough with Khazri, Bouanga and Hamouma to stay up.
Nice were handed their first defeat of the season on Wednesday night, surprisingly at Lorient. Nice have looked very strong this season, tight at the back but very dangerous on the break. They’ve had a hiccup over the last week though. They conceded their first goals of the season in a 2 - 2 home draw to Monaco last weekend then failed to score at Lorient on Wednesday. Les Aiglons dominated possession and had more chances than the Bretons. They also hit the bar and missed a penalty. Amine Gouiri has been in great form but has missed penalties in the last two games now. Those penalties could have made a difference of four points. I wonder if we'll see someone else step up to take a spot kick, should they be awarded one at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard tonight.
Worryingly for Christophe Galtier, his side only managed one shot on target against Lorient. Galtier will hope this is just a blip and will be going all out for the win here. Kasper Dolberg remains out with a knee injury and Justin Kluivert could miss this game with a muscle injury. Kluivert played in the defeat at Lorient but missed the previous game with an injury too. When he's fit he gives Nice a bit more of an attacking threat from the wing. Stengs should come in to replace him here.
Frenchfooty prediction: Saint-Étienne 1 V Nice 2
Strasbourg V Lille - Kicks off at 1800, Saturday 25th September. Live on BT Sport Extra 1.
Strasbourg had a fantastic win midweek at a previously unbeaten Lens. It was Les Coureurs' third win of the season and a back to back win after their 3 - 0 demolition of local rivals Metz last weekend. For the second game running Julien Stephan partnered Habib Diallo up front with Ludovic Ajorque, instead of Kevin Gameiro. Diallo is a bit quicker than Gameiro and has a stronger physical presence. For the first time this season Stephan actually started with his three forwards with Gameiro playing on the left of a three man midfield. That trio are capable of each scoring double figures this season. Strasbourg just need to create the chances for them. The game at Lens was a complete smash and grab. Strasbourg gave up 60% of possession to the home team and had just one shot on target. That chance fell to Ajorque who headed in from close range for his third goal of the season.
Strasbourg are likely to be without midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde for the second game running as he has a thigh injury. Bellegarde has been playing on the left side of midfield so we could see Gameiro take his place again.
Finally! A win for the Champions, just their second in seven games. Jocelyn Gourvennec and his side desperately needed a victory and got it on Wednesday evening beating Reims 2 - 1 at home. The strike pairing of Jonathan David and Burak Yilmaz, so prolific last season, finally combined as we know they can for the opening goal. Yilmaz ran on to a through ball and put in a lovely clipped cross right on to the head of his Canadian strike partner. That was David's second of the season and perhaps calmed a few nerves for his teammates, staff and fans. Yilmaz was again the provider with a nicely floated in corner which Benjamin André finished for his first goal of the season. Although Reims pulled one back in the second half Les Dogues held on for a priceless three points.
If Gourvennec can get his team to provide more support and chances for his Strikers, Lille will get some consistency. Xeka was suspended for the victory over Reims but could come back in to face Strasbourg in place of Onana. Midfielders Jonathan Bamba and Renato Sanches remain doubts with injuries. Sanches has only made one appearance for Lille this season. What difference could he make to their form after such an impressive season in 20/21?
Frenchfooty prediction: Strasbourg 1 V Lille 1
Lyon V Lorient - Kicks and off at 2000, Saturday 25th September
Lyon continued their good run of form with a 3 - 1 home victory on Wednesday against Troyes. Lyon went 1 - 0 down on the stroke of half time but reacted well early in the second half. Xherdan Shaqiri got his first goal for the club following his summer move from Liverpool. The Swiss International getting off the mark on 48 minutes. Left back and other summer signing Emerson (pictured) then put Lyon in front also with his first goal for the Club. Finally the inform Lucas Paquetá scored his 4th of the season to wrap things up.
Les Gones have hit form and are playing well. They have four victories in five games and were very unlucky to lose at PSG last week. If they hadn't had such a poor start to the season we might be seeing them push PSG for the title. With the signings of Emerson, Shaqiri and Jerome Boateng, Peter Bosz has a much more balanced side. His team seem to be clicking in to the quick passing style he likes. Moussa Dembele missed the game at Paris and came off the bench against Troyes. Unfortunately for Lyon the Striker is injured again with a muscle injury and is likely to miss this game too.
Lorient continue to surprise and became the first team to beat Nice this season. In front of their own fans they beat Les Aiglons 1 - 0 with their only shot on target. That shot came on the 23rd minute when Thomas Monconduit hit a sweet first time, side foot strike which flew in to the top corner. That was Monconduit's second of the season.
Les Merlus managed to hold on despite having defender Moritz Jenz sent off on 69 minutes for a second bookable defense. Lorient will now be without Jenz for this game. Midfielder Fabien Lemoine could possibly be available again after missing the Nice game due to personal reasons. Manager Christophe Pélissier is defying expectations with the performances and results he is getting from his team. He keeps proving me wrong but I think other than PSG, Lyon are currently the team to beat.
Frenchfooty prediction: Lyon 2 V Lorient 1
PSG V Montpellier - Kicks off at 2000, Saturday 25th September. Live on BT Sport 2.
PSG beat bottom side Metz on Wednesday but it wasn't as straightforward as many thought it would be. Paris scored early through right back Achraf Hakimi who knocked in a rebound after Icardi's shot was blocked. The Parisian's dominated the game but were pegged back to 1 - 1 before half time. For the second match running Paris needed a stoppage time winner to win the game. Again it came from Hakimi, this time finishing nicely on his weaker left foot. What a signing the Moroccan has been. Consistent performances, solid defending and threatening runs forwards have been complimented by three goals and two assists.
That's three games in a row that Mauricio Pochettino's have been tested yet they have won two and drawn one (Club Brugge 1 - 1). It's seven games and seven league wins so woe betide the rest of the league when they really click in to form. Lionel Messi missed the midweek game with a knee injury. I suspect Pochettino will leave him out for this game too in the hope that Messi will be fit for the Champion's League game against Manchester City on Tuesday. What a game that could be!
Montpellier are on a decent little run. Just one loss in six games. As we keep saying they are doing particularly well considering they lost their strikers (Laborde and Delort) at the end of the transfer window. In fact scoring goals hasn't been a problem. They scored three midweek at home to Bordeaux in an exciting game that finished 3 - 3. Manager Olivier Dall'Oglio must be delighted that Valere Germain has hit the ground running after signing as a free agent a few weeks ago. He scored twice against Bordeaux to take his tally to three goals in as many games for his new club. The former Marseille Striker is linking up well with Stephy Mavididi. The two exchanged passes for Germain's opening goal against Bordeaux and his second was a header from Savanier's free kick..
La Paillade's third goal was scored by Florent Mollet. A brilliantly hit left foot volley from the edge of the area. The front four of Mavididi, Savanier, Mollet and Germain is working brilliantly. I just hope they stay fit so we can keep seeing more attacking football and goals from Dall'Oglio's new look team. I think Montpellier will have a really good go at PSG and can see them scoring, particularly with Paris having one eye on their upcoming Champions League tie. PSG are able to win without being at their best so we could see another close win from them.
Frenchfooty prediction: PSG 2 V Montpellier 1
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