Lorient continued to surprise on Friday night with a 2 - 1 win over Lille who continue to struggle. Saturday saw PSG get five wins out of five by demolishing Clermont 4 - 0 despite having a lot of stars missing. Marseille continued their good form with a 2 - 0 win at Monaco. How will the rest of the league fair today?
Montpellier V Saint-Étienne - Kicks off at 1200 - Live on BT Sport ESPN
After losing Andy Delort to Nice, Montpellier have also sold their other top goal scorer Gaetan Laborde to Rennes. This is a huge loss to them. Delort scored 15 last season with 10 assists and already had 2 goals and one assist this season. Laborde meanwhile scored 16 goals with 7 assists in the last campaign. The 27 year old had already scored three this season including his final match for the Club in a 2 - 1 defeat at Lille. It’s a big ask for La Paillade’s young players to step up to that kind of form. Montpellier must have been desperate to stabilise their finances to accept an £18 Million to a rival for the European places. Olivier Dall'Oglio must have fancied his chances of getting his team in to Europe with that strike force. His job has just got whole lot harder. Montpellier have brought in former Marseille and Monaco Striker Valère Germain on a free transfer.
I’ve always liked Germain as a player. He works tremendously hard for the team and will harry defences. He is not a prolific goal scorer though. There will now be more opportunity for Stephy Mavididi and Elye Wahi to showcase their talents.We know Mavididi can score goals. The former Arsenal trainee got 9 last season and has one in three this campaign. I would expect Germain to start up front with Mavididi on the left wing and Wahi on the right.
Saint Etienne received their first loss of the season in their last game at Marseille. After three initial draws that loss makes it a pretty indifferent start to the season. They are not easily beaten though and do have goal scorers and pace in their team. They have also finally made a new signing. Ignacio Ramirez has signed from Uruguayan side Liverpool FC Montevideo.
The 24 year old Centre Forward has arrived on a season long loan. He has scored goals in the Uruguayan top flight but can he be effective in Ligue 1 and will Claude Puel start him this weekend? Puel has made Les Verts difficult to beat but they need to start winning games. This weekend would be a good opportunity with Montpellier losing their strike force. Saint Etienne have no new injury worries so should be confident of getting a result. I'm not sure they'll have enough though if Montpellier's youngsters step up on Sunday.
Frenchfooty prediction: Montpellier 1 V Saint-Étienne 1.
Bordeaux V Lens - Kicks off at 2000
Bordeaux had been showing signs of improvement but were then taken apart by Nice before the International break. In an empty stadium Les Bordelais were thrashed 4 - 0. Vladimir Petković's side created chances in that game and had more of the possession but weren't clinical enough and struggled to cope with Nice's pacey attacks. Centre back Enock Kwateng picked up his third booking in the last match and is now suspended for this game. In other news they sold attacking midfielder Yacine Adli to AC Milan but will keep him on loan for the rest of the season.
That seems to make good business sense. They are still in financial difficulty but can't afford to let the player go yet. Milan will get a promising player with another year's experience under his belt, barring injury. Bordeaux are not an awful side but this is going to be a year of transition for them on and off the pitch. They have talent with Adli and Hwang and are stabilising things but I think they'll struggle to finish in the top 10.
Lens have started well. Three draws and a win having already played some decent sides in Monaco and Rennes. They have scored in each of their four league games but just need to tighten up at the back a little. One of their highlights has ben the form of central midfielder and Captain Seko Fofana. Fofana already has three goals this season (one more than the prior campaign) and is generally playing very well. He took his goal brilliantly to equalise in the recent home game against Lorient. It's worth a look as he finishes off a nice team move by flips the ball up to volley it home: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0mwEIGCnDs . The Ivoirien is leading by example and loves to support his forwards, Kakuta, Ganago and Sotoca. Manager Franck Haise has strengthened his squad by resigning young PSG forward Arnaud Kalimuendo on loan.
The 19 year old (pictured above) got game time at Lens last season playing 30 matches and scoring 9 goals in League and Cup. It gives Haise more options as Kalimuendo can play up front or on the wing. For this game Les Lensois will still be without midfielder Cheick Doucouré who serves the last of his two game suspension.
Frenchfooty prediction: Bordeaux 1 V Lens 2
Brest V Angers - Kicks off at 1400
Brest have yet to win after four games. They have however given a good account of themselves in most matches and played some top teams in Paris and Lyon. They were beaten last time out 3 - 1 at Strasbourg but in terms of possession and chances created, the game was very even. Striker Steve Mounie had an early goal disallowed before Brest went 1 - 0 down. Irvin Cardona equalised brilliantly by taking a ball down on the turn to beat the Strasbourg defence.
The Bretons got caught out on the break too many times and poor defending cost them two goals that put the game out of sight. The first was a silly own goal by Duverne who couldn't sort his feet out to clear the ball. Brest will pick up points but are in for a tough season.
Angers continued their good form with a 2 - 0 win over Rennes in their last game. Gérald Baticle's side remain unbeaten with three wins and a draw and are currently ???? in the table.... Sofiane Boufal made the most of some terrible Rennes defending to score his second of the season. More impressively 17 year old Mohamed-Ali Cho got his first goal for the Club.
Cho was at Everton as a youngster and signed for Angers in May 2020. He has a good turn of pace and is yet another talented youngster to keep an eye on in Ligue 1. Angers dominated this game creating lots of chances. They hit very well on the counter attack but are defending well too. I really expected Angers to struggle this season, particularly with a new, inexperienced Manager. They have proved me wrong though and are playing some nice football. Can they keep it going?
Frenchfooty prediction: Brest 1 V Angers 1
Metz V Troyes - Kicks off at 1400
Metz picked up a point at Clermont in their last game but will be upset that they let go of a 2 - 0 lead. The good news is that star striker Ibrahima Niane got off the mark for the season with a 10th minute penalty. I find it difficult to talk about Metz without mentioning Niane. His goals are Les Grenats' best hope of staying up. Attacking midfielder Opa Nguette recently returned to training after injury so could make his first appearance of the season. Despite that Manager Frédéric Antonetti will have a some big selection headaches. His African players Dylan Bronn, Pape Sarr, Habib Maiga, Boubacar Kouyate, Alexandre Oukidja and Sofiane Alakouch have only just returned to the club after International duty. All of these players played in the draw against Clermont so it could really affect the team selection. If they do play they will be tired in comparison to other players and will have had little time to prepare. The team from Alsace will also be without defender John Boye who has joined Al-Fayha FC in Saudi Arabia. Boye was yet to play this season but has been Club Captain for a number of years. His leadership may be missed. Metz have secured the signing of free agent Nicolas de Préville.
The 30 year old was let go by Bordeaux at the end of last season. He has also played for Reims and Lille in a Ligue 1 career that has spanned 246 games with a return of 46 goals. He is reasonably strong in the air and likes to shoot from distance so could be a decent addition to the squad.
Troyes have only one point from their four games and are at the bottom of the table. They haven't played badly though and have been competitive in each game. We may see the debut of veteran defender Adil Rami who's experience may help to sure up the defence a little. It's possible we'll also see at least some of the new signings made on transfer deadline day:
Gerson Rodriguez, Left Winger from Dynamo Kyiv - Loan
Mykola Kukharevych, Centre Forward from OH Leuven - Loan
Philippe Sandler, Centre Back from Manchester City - Loan
Patrick Roberts, Right Winger from Manchester City - Loan
Erik Palmer-Brown, Centre Back from Manchester City - Loan
The latter three come from Troyes‘ affiliation with City Football Group the holding Company that own both Manchester City and Troyes, amongst others. Along with Issa Kaboré they now have four loan signings from the Manchester Club. Hopefully these youngsters will get valuable playing time that they have no chance of getting at City whilst also improving Troyes' squad. ES Troyes AC are clearly well run and moving in the right direction. They are financially sound, play decent football and have a good young Manager in Laurent Batlles.
On the pitch they just need to start being more clinical in front of goal. I fancy one of these teams to get their first win of the season and will go for the team from the Grand Est.
Frenchfooty prediction: Metz 0 V Troyes 1
Rennes V Reims - Kicks off at 1400 - Live on BT Sport ESPN
Rennes sold their prodigiously talented midfielder Eduardo Camavinga on deadline day for £27.9 million pounds to Real Madrid. There is no doubting Camavinga's quality and potential. However the 18 year olds form was patchy of late and Rennes have the squad to cope without him. With Camavinga departing Rennes used some of the money to buy Striker Gaetan Laborde from Montpellier. Laborde is a hard working forward who can play in a number of positions and also scores goals. At £13.5 Million this represents excellent business for Les Rennais.
Laborde already has three goals this season with Montpellier and was their top scorer last season with 16. Added to other summer signings like Santamaria, Sulemana and Badé, Rennes have a very good squad. Their form however has been poor with one win and two draws in four games. They have good players right through the team so I am sure it's only a matter of time before they get some consistency. If Laborde plays this weekend I fancy them to win. Les Rennais will be without winger Jeremy Doku through injury and centre back Loïc Badé through suspension.
Reims have three draws and a loss with the loss coming recently at home to PSG. New Manager Óscar García is getting his players to play an attractive style of football but I can't see them surviving this season. They don't score enough goals but often concede. The club has strengthened it's squad with the transfer deadline day capture of defensive midfielder Azor Matusiwa from Groningen. The Dutchman played 22 times in the Eredivisie last season and is strong and adept at intercepting the ball. Will Garcia play him here today?
Reims have not found a replacement for Striker Boulaye Dia who scored 14 goals last season but left for Villareal in the summer. That could be fatal for Les Rouges et Blancs survival hopes.
Frenchfooty prediction: Rennes 1 V Reims 0
Nantes V Nice - Kicks off at 1600 - Live on BT Sport 3
Les Nantais are coming off the back of two narrow 1 - 0 losses to Rennes and Lyon. That leaves them on four points after four games. Antoine Kombouaré has made Nantes difficult to beat and they don't concede a lot of goals. The problem is they don't score many either so have to get more prolific in front of goal. Les Canaris created more chances than Lyon but couldn't convert which cost them the game. The good news for Kombouaré is that new signing Wylan Cyprien may finally be fit enough to play a part. When fit, Cyprien should give a bit more steel to the Nantes midfield. Centre forward Kalifa Coulibaly has also recovered from injury and could make his first appearance of the season. Coulibaly only scored three goals last season but he is very strong and good in the air so at least gives his team a different option.
Defender Dennis Appiah has picked up a muscle injury so will not be available. Nantes have brought in Winger Willem Geubbels on a year long loan from Monaco. The 20 year old can play on either wing or up front so it will be interesting to see how and how much he is used.
Nice had the bad news this week that they will be docked two points following the crowd trouble at the Allianz Riviera a few weeks ago. They will also be without home fans for a further three matches. Other than that Nice are flying. Christophe Galtier has his team attacking with pace and scoring goals. They blew Bordeaux away 4 - 0 in their last game and have yet to concede a goal. Striker Amine Gouiri was particularly effective against Bordeaux. The 21 year old finished off a fast, sweeping counter attack before winning and converting a penalty. Gouiri now has three goals and one assist in four games.
Worryingly for Nantes, Gouiri's strike partner Kasper Dolberg is available after missing the Bordeaux game. Right back Jordan Lotomba is suspended for an accumulation of yellow cards. Nantes are struggling to score and Nice have yet to concede. I can only see one winner here.
Frenchfooty prediction: Nantes 0 V Nice 2
Lyon V Strasbourg - Kicks off at 1945 0 Live on BT Sport 3
Lyon finally got their first win of the season at Nantes just before the International break. Most pleasing for Les Gones is that Striker Moussa Dembele got the winner and now has three goals in two games.
Les Lyonnais made a big signing on the 1st september by bringing in free agent Jérôme Boateng. The 33 year old German International has already had an impressive career winning the Champions League twice and the Bundesliga nine times. Unfortunately for Lyon just 7 days after he signed Boateng was found guilty of assaulting his ex girlfriend. He has been ordered to pay a fine of 1.8 million euros but will avoid a prison sentence. That means he could be available to play this weekend but it's hardly a good start to his Lyon career. Manager Peter Bosz will probably have preferred to keep him out whilst the media circus dies down. However Bosz will be without defenders Leo Dubois (calf injury) and Damien Da Silva so may be forced in to playing Boateng. There's a chance influential midfielder Lucas Paqueta will not play either after playing for Brazil on Friday night. Lyon fans will be hoping that Xherdan Shaqiri gets his first start here.
Strasbourg also got their first win of the season in their last match beating Brest 3 - 1 at home. It's clear Strasbourg have got goals in their team with Diallo, Gameiro and Ajorque. Ludovic Ajorque in particular is always a threat with his physical presence and was involved in two of Strasbourgs 3 goals against Brest. Les Coureurs just need to tighten up a little at the back, particularly against the bigger teams like Lyon.
It's possible we could see new signings and centre backs Gerzino Nyamsi and Maxime Le Marchand feature, I feel like Strasbourg are similar to Lille and Rennes in that at some point they will click. Away at Lyon will be tough but with Lyon having players missings I can see Strasbourg nicking a point.
Frenchfooty prediction: Lyon 1 V Strasbourg 1
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