The Ligue 1 race is heading into its final quarter with four horses in major title contention. Lille (62 pts) is leading the way, only one point above Ligue 1 goal scoring leaders Paris Saint-Germain (60 pts), while Lyon (59 pts) sit in third position, just short of the log leaders by three points, and lastly, fourth-placed Monaco (52 pts) have pulled themselves back in the race after their victory over PSG in the last gameweek.
Gameweek 29’s heavy hitter will be Christopher Galtier’s top-of-the-table Les Dogues taking on Niko Kovac’s Monaco, who are looking to take their unbeaten home streak to eight consecutive matches.
Friday 12 March
Reims 54/10
Draw 7/2
Lyon 9/20
(22:00)
Reims are unbeaten in four matches and with an historic away win over Nantes – their first since October 1974 – in their last outing. Confidence will be running on a high as they look to grind their way up the Ligue standings. The opposition coming into Reims’ home turf looking to crash the party is none other than “the big OL.” Lyon are currently three points shy to equal log leaders and it has been a decade and a half since the fans have touched Ligue 1 silverware. With talented attacker Nathanael Mbuku back from suspension for Reims, and Les Gones gunning silverware, I am sure an attack-minded approach for Lyon to secure three points will not be in question. With goals expected in this tie, back Both Teams to Score at 8/10.
Saturday 13 March
Angers 29/20
Draw 9/4
Saint-Etienne 19/10
(14:00)
I am sure Stephane Moulin and his Black & Whites still have big smiles all around after their 5-0 thumping of Club Franciscain to progress to the Coupe De France quarter finals in their last outing, as well as being unbeaten in their last four Ligue 1 appearances. St. Eteinne have now dropped to 16th after two consecutive losses, but not without a fight in the last 3-2 defeat at home to Lens. Claude Puel’s side edge closer to the red zone, therefore, the urgency for a win is imminent. With Angers on an appealing run of form and St. Etienne desperate for a win, I see this turning out to be an interesting fixture, yet a stalemate is the call at 9/4.
Marseille 1/1
Draw 47/20
Brest 28/10
(18:00)
Closing out Ligue 1 Saturday fixtures, Marseille bounced back in their midweek tie. Substitute Michael Cuisance directed his header into the far-left corner in the dying minutes of the game to secure a much-needed win against Rennes after failing to progress in this past weekend’s cup fixture and losing 2-0 to log leaders Lille in their last league outing. Brest are in a midtable tussle of one point between 12th and 15th place after beating rock-bottom Dijon 3-1. With Brest conceding 0.86 goals this season in the first half and Marseille scoring a higher average in the first half, back the Olympians on the Half-time/Full-time Double (H/H) at 21/10.
Sunday 14 March
Nimes 23/10
Draw 51/20
Montpellier 11/10
(14:00)
Kicking off Sunday’s array of Ligue 1 action are relegation-threatened Nimes looking get back in to winning ways after putting together a great string of three wins with three clean sheets and a draw, before last week’s 2-1 loss at Nice. Montpellier come into the contest on a six-game unbeaten streak and look to close a five-point gap on Thursday night European football. Long standing head coach Michel Der Zakarian will be looking to make it four straight wins for La Paillade. With Nimes having conceded a whopping 54 goals in 28 games, and Montpellier with the highest ‘Both Teams to Score’ percentage of Ligue 1, you can trust there will be goals. But instead of the 7/10 on offer for BTTS, Montpellier to win at a simple 11/10 is where my eyes are focused.
Lorient 15/10
Draw 47/20
Nice 18/10
(16:00)
Lorient is just two goals short of the weakest defence in the French League, 52 conceded, and a mere two points above relegation. Coach Christopher Pelissier will be scratching his head again after glory in last years’ Ligue 2 victory, only to find out the big league might be a bit much for his crew. Since French Legend Patrick Vieira’s sacking in December, backroom staff turned head coach Adrian Dante has only managed six wins in his 20 games in the driver’s seat. Nice have been the most on-and-off team this season, and it shows being Ligue 1’s balancing beam at 11th place. The silver lining here is in-form 21-year-old Amine Gouiri who has bagged 11 goals this season, scoring four in his last five league appearances. Back Nice to claim maximum points at a valuable 18/10.
Rennes 12/10
Draw 9/4
Strasbourg 49/20
(16:00)
The Roazhon Park visit for Strasbourg is a shining light of hope for an away three points with Rennais losing five matches on the trot in all competitions and a single win in 2021. Les Rouge et Noir (the Red and Blacks) are still favourites to win, despite their form. The Racers are looking to capitalise on their opponents’ dismal performances when they meet this Sunday after upsetting Monaco in their last league fixture. In-form Habibou Diallo and Ludovic Ajorque will spearhead Strasbourg’s attack with a combined 18 goals and seven assists. Strasbourg upset the odds makers in their last outing, and with Rennais on the poor run of form they are in, I am behind the blessing of Strasbourg 49/20.
Lens 9/10
Draw 47/20
Metz 33/10
(16:00)
Metz make a 373km trip to Stade Bollaert-Delelis after dismantling Valenciennes 4-0 in the Coupe de France, cruising into the quarter finals. However, they sit bottom of the Ligue 1 BTTS table overall. Lens manager Frank Haise has riled up the team spirit this season, proven by the tight race between assists in Ligue 1 with Clement Michelin, Jonathan Clauss and Gael Kakuta all on four assists – the latter boasting nine goals this season. Lens are fifth on the table and want to distance themselves from sixth-placed Metz, making the gap six points to edge closer to Europa League football for the first time in a decade. The battle between fifth and sixth will be a hot contest. I have Lens securing a victory at 9/10.
Dijon 51/20
Draw 24/10
Bordeaux 21/20
(16:00)
Rock-bottom and mentally relegated Dijon welcome out-of-form Bordeaux to Stade Gaston-Gerard. With nothing but pride and a mathematical chance to stay in top flight football, Dijon hope to break an eight-match losing streak. The Owls ex-captain turned coach David Linares has scraped two wins since being appointed mid-November. Bordeaux would fancy themselves to take their first three points in seven winless games. Les Girondins star Hartem Ben Arfa has had a poor season, managing just two goals and assists, way below fans expectations. In the battle to end losing streaks, I am in support of Bordeaux to win at 21/20.
Monaco 14/10
Draw 21/10
Lille 21/10
(18:05)
The glamour that is Monaco city is hosts to gameweek 29’s big hitter. Top-of-the-table Lille take a trip to Stade Louis II with intentions of kicking Monaco out of the title race. Monaco play host to Lille this weekend with Niko Kovac being humble in stating “There must be a big miracle for us to be on the podium.” With the recent defeat of PSG, Monaco look to further their chances at Ligue 1 glory. Les Monegasques are second only to PSG in goals scored this season at 56, with in-form front two Ben Yedder being prolific in front of goal (13 goals) and golden boy Kevin Volland doing both jobs, netting 13 goals and racking up seven assists. The cream at the top Les Dogues have not been as ruthless in front of goal as Monaco, but they boast the best defensive record this season, conceding a mere 17 goals (tied with PSG). Lille have lost just one away game this season and are currently on seven-game winning streak away from the comforts of home. Without Burak Yilmaz at the helm of attack due to injury, they will have to rely on 21-year-old USA international Jonathan David, who has nine goals this term, and veteran midfielder Cesc Fabregas. The big stakes fixture is hard to call, so I am going on gut feeling – Lille to win at 21/10.
Paris-Saint Germain
Draw 6/1
Nantes 11/1
(22:00)
Closing out the Ligue 1 weekend, Nantes make the daunting trip to reigning Ligue 1 champions PSG. Mauricio Pochettino will know that the next few fixtures are must-win games to keep pressure on top-of-the-table Lille and emotions are running high after emphatically knocking out the “Catalina Giants” 5-2 on aggregate to secure a place in Champions League quarter-finals. With Neymar just falling short of fitness for the Champions League matchup against former employers, we could expect to see him in the line-up this Sunday coming against Nantes. Nantes still have hopes of undoing their fate in the relegation zone, but I believe PSG will be too much for them to handle. With not much to look forward to on PSG taking the win at 2/11, I would back PSG to Win By Three Or More Goals at 29/20.
TREBLE @ 87/10
Montpellier Win 11/10
Lens Win 9/10
PSG Win 29/20 To Win By 3
Written by Joshua Gaillard