Strasbourg V Metz - Kicks off at 2000 on Friday 17 September - Live on BT Sport ESPN
It's Derby day in Alsace. Both sides have had poor starts to the season and are both coming off the back of a loss. Of the two teams I would have expected Strasbourg to do better. They have some good players particularly up front. Les Coureurs were disappointing at Lyon last week and I expected them to carry more threat at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais. Strasbourg did create chances but did not score until the 97th minute when substitute Habib Diallo scored a penalty. I wonder if Manager Julien Stéphan will be tempted to start Diallo more.
Strasbourg have only one win in five and against Lyon they seemed to lack an outlet from counter attacks. Stéphan has set up his team with five at the back with Gameiro and Ajorque up front. Both are good Strikers but perhaps need more support. Neither have much pace so if Strasbourg were to change formation to accommodate Diallo they'd carry more of a threat. The current system asks a lot of the full backs to get up and down the pitch. Strasbourg’s only bonafide left back, Anthony Caci, is injured with a groin injury so Dimitri Liénard may have to fill in. The midfielder seems wasted there to me as he's much more effective further up the pitch.
Metz are still without a win and lost their last game 2 - 0 at home to Troyes. Les Grenats dominated possession but were kept to long range efforts that caused little trouble to the opposition. Pape Matar Sarr's shot from range crashed off the bar but there was meagre threat apart from that. Frédéric Antonetti's side only created two shots on goal.
What's also concerning for Antonetti is that both Troye's goalscorers were unchallenged before scoring. Metz have now conceded 10 goals in 5 games. They have to get more solid at the back whilst finding a way to create chances for Striker Ibrahima Niane. Antonetti has talent at his disposal in Maiga, Sarr (pictured above) and Niane but his side is a little unbalanced. It's going to be a tough season for them.
Frenchfooty prediction: Strasbourg 2 V Metz 1
Lens V Lille - Kicks off at 1400 - Saturday 18 September
Another Derby! The last thing Lille need at the moment is the short trip to their Hauts-de-France rivals who are in very good form. Les Lensois are unbeaten with two wins and three draws. They are coming off a big win at Bordeaux last week in which they were leading 2 - 0, got pegged back to 2 - 2 then scored a winner in the 96th minute, The winner came from Veteran Striker Florian Sotoca's penalty.
Sotoca now has two for the season but could possibly be on the bench for this game with Ignatius Ganago being available. Scoring has not been a problem for Les Sang est Ors this season with goals being shared throughout the team. They have been helped by the great form of Captain and attacking midfielder Seko Fofana who's supporting runs cause problem for opposing teams. Fofana has three goals this season. Franck Haise must be delighted with the performances his team have put in so far. If Haise can just shore up the defense a little his team could be in for another great season.
Lille are struggling to find their form. After finally getting their first league win of the season, against Montpellier, prior to the International Break they then lost at Lorient last week. Jocelyn Gourvennec is struggling to get consistency out of his side. They were looking a little more solid at the back with new Keeper Ivo Grbic. The Croatian has made some important saves in the four games he’s played for the Champions although he seems nervous in dealing with crosses. His defenders let him down against Lorient. Four of them struggled to crowd out Terem Moffi before the ball fell to the unmarked Lauriente who scored. Lille were always going to miss Mike Maignan who was fantastic in goal for them last season. Their defence remains the same though so to go from defending so consistently to so erratically, is a worry. Gourvennec’s team did redeem themselves somewhat in their Wednesday night Champions League draw with Wolfsburg. The German side have started the season brilliantly, winning their first four games and sitting at the top of the Bundesliga. However Lille gave one of their best performances of the season to take the game to Wolfsburg. Gourvennec may feel it’s two points dropped as Lille dominated the game for large parts, against a side that were down to ten men from the 62nd minute. Jonathan David was a threat in that game so maybe we will soon see a decent goal scoring partnership with Burak Yilmaz.
David had 12 goals last season in all competitions whilst Yilmaz got 17. If Lille keep creating chances they will score goals. Lille will be without Timothy Weah and Jonathan Bamba as both are carrying injuries that have kept them out of the last three games.
Frenchfooty prediction: Lens 2 V Lille 2
Saint-Étienne V Bordeaux - Kicks off at 2000 - Saturday 18 September - Live on BT Sport 3
Two of France's most well known and successful clubs find themselves at the foot of the table. Each side have yet to win a game and have some issues off the pitch too. Saint-Etienne have three draws and two losses with the club up for sale. Bordeaux have only two draws and three losses after their first five games and are getting to grips with having a new owner who is trying to manage their financial troubles. Neither side has done much business at all in bringing players in so Manager’s Claude Puel and Vladimir Petković have to work with what they’ve got. Both have some good players but limited squads so it's hard to see them improve if they start getting injuries. I expect both teams to be safe from relegation but not much more. Saint Etienne’s new Striker and only summer signing Ignacio Ramírez made his debut last week coming on as a substitute in the 60th minute.
The game was lost 2 - 0 but perhaps Ramirez will give Les Verts more of a focal point up front. If he can link up with other attacking players like Bouanga, Khazri, Nordin and Hamouma perhaps he'll do well. The Uruguayan is untested at this level but we shall see.
Bordeaux have shown some fight at times, coming back from 2 - 0 down twice, last week against Lens and away to Marseille. However they only got one point from those two games so need to find some consistency. Les Bordelais will have Winger Samuel Kalu available again now his period of quarantine is over following the International Break. Young Midfielder Issouf Sissokho is out with illness. Bordeaux have goals in their team, particularly with Striker Hwang Ui-Jo (pictured) but need to make more of their possession and chances created.
Each of these teams really needs their first win of the season here. Saint-Étienne should go for it being at home but all out attack is not Claude Puel's style. A draw is the most likely outcome.
Frenchfooty prediction: Saint-Étienne 1 V Bordeaux 1
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