Brest V PSG - Kicks off at 2000 - Friday 20 August - Live on BT Sport 2
This weeks Friday night game gives Brest the chance to dent PSG’s title March. This is only the third game of the season but with two wins and so many quality players yet to come in to the team, Paris are clearly the team to beat. Brest‘s biggest signing so far has been that of Goalkeeper Marco Bizot and they lack a bit of firepower.
The Bretons however have had a good start. A great performance and draw at Lyon (which they should have won) was followed by a home stalemate against Rennes. Substitute Jérémy Le Douaron came off the bench to equalise in the 91st minute to win his team a point. Looking at the squad Brest seem a little short of goals. A fact enforced by last week's stats in the match against Rennes; 10 shots with 5 on target but only one goal. They play some nice football and are quick on the counter attack. I can see them causing Paris problems but not enough to get anything.
It was party time at the Parc Des Princes last weekend with the unveiling before kick off of new signings Wijnaldum, Hakimi, Ramos. Donnarumma and of course Lionel Messi. The latter trio were not included in the squad but the starting eleven was good enough to beat most teams. They couldn't have started much better with Icardi opened the scoring in the third minute. A deflected own goal by Ajorque and a tap in from Draxler saw the Parisians go in at half time 3 - 0 up and looking very comfortable. Strasbourg fought back with two headed goals to make a game of it. After Strasbourg had defender Djiku sent off, Paris smelt blood and scored a fourth through Sarabia (pictured).
Sarabia only had to tap in after great work from Mbappe. Kylian Mbappe had a great game attacking from the left with pace and skill. He also set up the goal for Draxler and it was his shot that was deflected in by Ajorque. All that after being booed by his own fans whilst walking on to the pitch. The Parisians are irked that the 22 year old has yet to sign a new contract. If he is to leave then they should enjoy him while they've got him. Pochettino's team may have had a more difficult time had Djiku not been sent off at 3 - 2. It looks like Paris can be scored against. The problem for the rest of the league is they have Marquinhos and Ramos yet to come in as Central Defenders and look like they can outscore everybody. If other teams have any hope of competing against PSG they have to get some consistency quickly and hope Paris drop points before they have the strongest team available. Otherwise they will be left behind very quickly.
Frenchfooty prediction: Brest 1 V PSG 3
Monaco V Lens - Kicks off at 1600 Saturday 21st August
Monaco have had a poor start. The team I fancied to push PSG for the title more than any other only have one point from two games. It's early days but Paris are winning and scoring goals without their best players. There is no time this season for teams to find their way and get in to their stride. Any team with any kind of hope for the title needs to be winning consistently. Niko Kovač's side have perhaps been a little distracted by their Champions League qualifying games. They had a good start to the qualifying rounds with a 5 - 1 aggregate win over Sparta Prague. After losing last weekend to Lorient 1 - 0 they then lost 1 - 0 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek. Les Monegasques now have a mountain to climb to win at Donestsk on Wednesday night and qualify for the Champions League Group stage. Financially and Sportingly it will be a disaster if Monaco do not qualify. It puts Kovač's team under enormous pressure. The Champions League play off game is a must win but so is this league game against Lens. Fail to win and they will be playing catch up for the rest of the season. Monaco have the players to do well but having two games a week this early in the season has unbalanced them. I think they need to go all out for the win on Saturday afternoon and worry about the Champions League when they've got three points. It will be easier said than done to do either.
Lens have started reasonably well with two draws in their opening games. They twice came back from a goal down last weekend to draw at home with Saint-Étienne.
Striker Ignatius Ganago got off the mark for the season with a nicely planted header and midfielder Seko Fofana got his second goal in as many games.
Fofana only scored twice in the whole of the 20/21 season so has had a great start to this campaign. He also had a shot from distance that the Saint Etienne Keeper had to tip over the bar. Franck Haise has yet to start new Centre Half Kevin Danso who signed from Augsburg just before the season started. The 22 year old Austrian International can also play at Right or Left Back so it will be interesting to see how Haise uses him. Lens look like they will be difficult to beat and could have another good season as long as they don't lose key players to injury. The seventh placed finish they had last season will be difficult to match unless they make a few more signings. It will be interesting however to see how their season and this game pans out.
Frenchfooty prediction: Monaco 1 V Lens 1
Saint-Étienne V Lille - Kicks off at 2000 Saturday 21st August - Live on BT Sport 1
Saint-Étienne is a Club in transition with co-Presidents Roland Romeyer and Bernard Caïazzo recently putting the Club up for sale. The duo have let a number of players go on free transfers in a bid to trim the wage bill but as yet have signed no new players at all. Manager Claude Puel has to work with what he has got, a young squad with just four players 30 or over.
So far Puel is getting a decent response out of his players. Les Verts have drawn both their opening games but seem to be showing a bit more attacking intent than they did last season. Last seasons top scorers Wabhi Khazri and Denis Bouanga have looked bright and have already scored twice and once respectively. The young and aptly named Etienne Green is showing promise in Goal and they have pace in the team with Bouanga, Hamouma and Nordin. It's not all doom and gloom for Les Stephanois but a mid table finish wouldn't be a bad return with the lack of investment and uncertainty off the field.
Lille had an awful result last weekend at home losing 4 - 0 to Nice. It was a nightmare scenario for new Manager Jocelyn Gourvennec. Not just to get thrashed in the first home game of the season but also in losing so convincingly against a side managed by his predecessor Christophe Galtier. It was always going to be tough following on from Galtier who won the championship at Lille last year.
Les Lillois still have good players and must react well to that loss or are in danger of having a disastrous start to the season. Gourvennec will be without Renato Sanches (knee injury) and Xeka (hip) for this game which won't help.
New signing Amadou Onana made his first appearance from the bench last weekend. Will he start here in place of Yazici? Les Dogues have to get something here and if on song are well capable of getting a result. A draw wouldn't be a bad result for either side but a loss for Lille here puts Gourvennec under tremendous pressure.
Frenchfooty prediction: Saint-Étienne 1 V Lille 1
Comentarios