Ligue 1 action makes its way back to our screens after a stinger of a week which saw Monaco claim top spot! They raise the curtain on this week’s fixtures with a visit to Nantes.
Friday, 25 August
Nantes 7/2 | Draw 13/5 | Monaco 8/11
Log leaders Monaco will look to maintain their perfect start to the season when they come up against 16th Nantes at the Stade de la Beaujioire on Friday. The visitors were off to a flyer in their last game against Strasbourg when Takumi Minamino gave his side the lead through a wonderful strike in the 20th minute. Meanwhile, Nantes are still looking for their first win of the new season after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Lille on Sunday. Monaco have scored seven goals in two games… they are heavy favourites for a third straight win again here against Nates with a single goal to their name. Monaco to lead at Half-time.
Saturday, 26 August
Marseille 1/2 | Draw 10/3 | Brest 5/1
Brest will look to stretch their win streak to three matches when they take on Marseille in the league on Saturday, with the hosts desperate to bounce back from a 2-2 draw with Metz last time out. In that match Marseille opened the scoring through teenager Emran Soglo and when into the half-time break leading, but Metz came out a rejuvenated side and equalised via a Cheick Sabaly strike just after the hour mark. Brest will come here hoping to build on their 2-1 win over Le Havre where goals by Romain Del Castillo and Lillian Brassier were enough to see them through. Trust BTTS here.
PSG 4/7 | Draw 16/5 | Lens 21/5
PSG are enduring a slow start to the season under new manager Luis Enrique after recording two draws from their opening two fixtures. They host Lens who are also winless after drawing one and losing one of their opening encounters. Now without Neymar and Messi, Kylian Mbappe finds himself having to shoulder the attack of the team and had to score a penalty against Toulouse to open his goal account this season. Lens will welcome back Adrien Thomasson who was shown a red card in their opener against Brest, and hope that he can pay a crucial role as they aim for a first win of the season. PSG for the home win.
Sunday, 27 August
Rennes 2/5 | Draw 7/2 | Le Havre 6/1
Stade Rennes will look to secure a win against Le Havre to keep up with Brest and Monaco who could stretch their lead to five points if they win this weekend. They had to salvage a second-half equaliser last time out against Lens after Deiver Machado had netted in the third minute for Lens at home. Rennes are aiming to add to Le Havre’s woes after the Ocean Port suffered a 2-1 defeat to Stade Brest on Sunday. Stade Rennes or DRAW on the Double chance.
Clermont Foot 17/20 | Draw 11/4 | Metz 11/4
Clermont Foot have conceded six goals in two matches played – a huge concern as they find themselves occupying rock bottom in the log standings. They host newcomers Metz this Sunday and will look to secure their first win of the season. Metz were unlucky not to walk away with all three points in their encounter with Marseille after coming from a goal down to lead 2-1. They were reduced to ten men and could not hold back the Marseille attack in the dying stages of the game, and Vtinha took advantage with an 82nd equaliser. Metz to lead at Half-time.
Strasbourg 11/10 | Draw 5/2 | Toulouse 85/40
Strasbourg have one win and one defeat ahead of their home clash against Toulouse who sit in seventh spot with a single point gap over them. Toulouse are yet to taste defeat in the new campaign after beating Nantes and playing to a draw with champions PSG in their recent outing. They were fortunate to get something out of that PSG fixture, and playing in front of their own fans, Strasbourg are capable of tearing them apart. Back the hosts to win.
Montpellier 13/10 | Draw 12/5 | Reims 15/8
Montpellier will be beaming in confidence after their impressive 4-1 win over 10-man Lyon on Saturday, where they won the game but had truly little possession, pass accuracy and passes completed compared to their opponents. Reims were also victors in their last encounter – overcoming Clermont Foot by 2-0 to ensure a swift response to their defeat on opening day. They will come here as slight underdogs though, with the hosts boasting a decent home record. First Team to Score: Montpellier.
Lorient 13/5 | Draw 15/2 | LOSC 10/11
Lorient have been misfiring at the start of the new season and will aim to rectify their mistakes when they take on Lille at home on Sunday. They only have two shots from two matches played, and I cannot see them troubling Lille here. Lille were frustrated to a 1-1 draw in their first game but bounced back to win 2-1 against Nantes on Sunday. They will come to Lorient aiming for their second win of the season, as it will see them move further up the log. My money is the away win for Lille.
Nice 1/1 | Draw 13/5 | Lyon 23/10
Nice’s two draws so far this season have come when they took the lead first, and lost control o the game as well as their concentration. They take on Lyon in the last game of the week on Sunday, and it is the visitors who will come here as sligh favourites to win even though they are winless and sit in 17th spot. Lyon have conceded six goals ahead of this game while Nice have scored two. I think this encounter really could go either way, especially with the poor form that Lyon find themselves in. Nice or draw on the Double chance.
