Lille V Saint Étienne - Kicks off at 20:00 - Friday 11 March - Live on BT Sport 3
Lille have struggled for consistency this season but had a big win last week at home over Clermont. The 4 - 0 victory gave them back to back league wins for the first time since December. They scored in just the third minute with Jonathan Bamba heading in a Renato Sanches cross. Les Dogues dominated the game, limiting Clermont to a single shot on goal. It wasn’t until Clermont had a man sent off on 68 minutes that the goals rained on. Jonathan David got his 13th goal of the season with Sanches again the creator.
Right back Mehmet Zeki Çelik and winger Edon Zhegrova wrapped things up late on. A pretty routine win that takes them up to 7th in the table. It’s fair to say Lille had a bit of luck in their win over Lyon two weeks ago and came up against a lacklustre Clermont team a week ago. However they are now right in the hunt for a European place. Win here and they can possibly jump to fifth. There are no injuries or suspensions so Lille are in good shape.
Saint Étienne had another vital win last weekend over fellow relegation battlers Metz. Whilst Metz are struggling this season they are difficult to break down. Les Verts took the game to Metz, created chances and managed to get the breakthrough on 52 minutes through Denis Bouanga. The Gabonese International scored his 5th of the season but second in two games. That was enough to earn a vital three points that takes them out of the bottom three and keeps Metz in there. There was a scare at the end of the game when Metz were awarded a penalty. However VAR picked up on a foul on Mahdi Camara in the lead up and the penalty was rightly ruled out. Les Stephanois are just a point above the bottom three but are the most in form team out of the bottom five. They have lost just once in six games (at league leaders PSG), winning four and drawing one. Pascal Dupraz has revitalized this team and his signings have been very effective. Goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni (pictured) brought in on loan from Angers and centre back Eliaquim Mangala signed as a free agent, have given much needed experience and calmness.
Winger Sadio Thiuob, also on loan from Angers, has injected some dynamism in to Saint Étienne's attacking play and allowed Arnaud Nordin be pushed forward as a striker. Other players that were already at the Club have been given a new lease of life under Dupraz particularly Algerian attacking midfielder Ryad Boudebouz who was a bit part player under Claude Puel. Unfortunately Mangala is suspended for this game and fellow defenders Saidou Sow, Yvann Macon and Miguel Trauco remain injured. Midfielder Yvan Neyou is unlikely to be fit for this game, forward Romain Hamouma is still out with a wrist injury and January signing Enzo Crivelli is still carrying a groin injury.More importantly Les Verts will be without their unbelievable home support. Dupraz has also got them back on side after some awful times earlier in the season that saw protests, violence and playing staff threatened.
French Footy prediction: Lille 1 - Saint Étienne 1
Montpellier V Nice - Kicks off at 16:00 Saturday 12 March
Montpellier are in a sticky spell and have now lost six of their last eight league games. They have a lot of creativity in their team but struggle to see games out often conceding in the final 20 minutes of games. Their latest defeat 2-0 at Nantes being a case in point. Despite having 55% of the possession they only managed one shot on target and conceded twice between the 69th and 93rd minutes. It's unusual for La Paillade to create more chances but they are missing young English winger Stephy Mavididi who has been out with a knee injury since the beginning of February. Mavididi has scored 8 goals with 3 assists in 21 league games this season and links up well with attacking midfielders Florent Mollet and Teji Savanier. They still have plenty of attacking threat but were shown up by the Nante's pace last weekend. It was only two months ago Montpellier were looking like candidates for a European place but their form has been patchy since and they have sunk to 11th in the table. Manager Olivier Dall'Oglio needs to find a way of getting his team back on form.
Mavididi remains out as does centre back Mamadou Sakho alongside long term injuries Thibaut Tamas and Pedro Mendes.
Nice had a fantastic result last Sunday beating Champions Elect PSG 1-0 at home. Les Aiglons were happy to let Paris have the ball, soak up the pressure and try and hit on the break. Christophe Galtier's tactics worked perfectly as PSG were limited to just two shots on target whilst Nice had six. The all important chance coming in the 88th minute to win the game. Nice won the ball in their own half, broke quickly and Calvin Stengs crossed for Andy Delort to smash in with his right foot.
That was the Algerian's 7th league goal of the season and 9th in all competitions. If Nice could just have been more consistent this season they may have rivaled PSG for the title. Three times they’ve played the Parisians during this 21/22 campaign and neither conceded or been beaten. They drew 0-0 at the Parc Des Princes in the reverse league fixture then again in the home cup game before beating them on penalties. Christophe Galtier has really brought them on since taking over in the summer. They should qualify for Europe through their league position and could have a trophy if they can beat Nantes on the 7th May. After such a good result it wouldn’t be unlike Nice to drop points here. Win though and they're guaranteed to stay second. They have no new injury concerns here.
French Footy prediction: Montpellier 1 - Nice 1
Troyes V Nantes - Kicks off at 20:00 - Saturday 12 March - Live on BT Sport 3
Along with Bordeaux Troyes have had the worst form in the league but managed to beat their fellow relegation battlers last weekend. The 2-0 away win was absolutely huge for L’ESTAC, pushing them out of the bottom four and keeping their rivals propping up the rest of the table. They need another win here to guarantee staying out of the relegation places. Troyes were much the better team and had several good chances before Issa Issa Kaboré won a penalty. The 20 year old on loan from Manchester City had too much pace for the Bordeaux defence and was fouled in the area. The Burkinabese is usually used as a right back but has been playing as a wing back in Troyes' 3-4-3 formation.
Mama Baldé initially saw the penalty saved only for the Bordeaux keeper to spill the ball. The goal was judged to be an own goal by the Keeper which was a little harsh on Baldé. Another penalty sealed the game in stoppage time. Substitute Lebo Mothiba, signed on loan from Strasbourg in January burst in to the box and was fouled. The 26 year old South African got up and scored the spot kick himself to seal the victory. Troye's' match was spoiled by a reckless challenge right at the end from Youssouf Koné which saw him sent off. He will now be suspended for this game along with fellow defender Giulian Biancone and Gerson Rodrigues. Oualid El Hajjam and forwards Gerson Rodrigues, Renaud Ripart and Hyun-Jun Suk are all out with injury. Perhaps Mothiba will start up front here after his first goal for the club.
Another win for Nantes, their 12th of the season and 4th in six league games. With a Coupe De France final coming up this is turning out to be one of the most unexpected stories of the season. Everything is going right for Antoine Kombouaré‘s side. Randal Kolo Muani's pace caused Montpellier problems all throughout the game and when Ludovic Blas hooked a ball in to the area it was Muani who headed in his 11th goal of the season. It's a shame Muani has already agreed to leave Nantes in the summer favouring a move to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Late substitute Wiiliam Geubbels scored with his first touch to wrap things up in stoppage time. The Stade de la Beaujoire has been bouncing in recent weeks due to the performances and results of their team. It's so good to see after the tribulations of almost getting relegated last year. Another plus for Nantes is the emergence of young left back Quentin Merlin who threatened the Montpellier goal with fierce long range shots. The 19 year old has made 17 league appearances this season scoring one goal (against PSG) and creating one, after being promoted from the B team. One of many bright points in what is turning in to a very special season for Les Canaris. Can they keep it going?
French Footy prediction: Troyes 0 - Nantes 1
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