French Ligue 1: Gameweek 36 Preview

The evergreen Burak Yilmaz has been in sensational form for Lille


And then there were two! The race to glory comes down to the wire with defending champions Paris Saint-Germain and astonishingly consistent Lille just one point abreast.


Ligue 1 has just three fixtures left, and any dropped points could be detrimental, as both Lyon and Monaco know all too well. At the start of April, an exciting four-horse race to the finish line was on offer in Ligue 1. Lyon were knocked out of contention in a 3-2 defeat at home to log-leaders Lille at the end of April, and just a week later Monaco fell short in last week’s action packed 3-2 defeat to Lyon at the Stade Louis II.


It’s time, for yet another thrilling gameweek in the Ligue 1.

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Friday 7 May


Lens 3/1

Draw 49/20

Lille 9/10

(21:00)

The Derby du Nord takes place in Stade Bollaert-Delelis. Lens will be vying to secure European football and stopping their northern rivals from winning the league all in one match. Franck Haise has done exceptionally well since joining in March 2020 taking the team to 5th after being promoted to top flight football for the first time since 2015. Lille have looked like champions and their first placed position with three games to go is well deserved. Their defensive displays have been quality, and all praise should go to the centre-back pairing of Jose Fonte and Sven Botman, as well as soon to be Golden Glove winner (in my opinion) Mike Maignan, who has the most-clean sheets across all top-five leagues in Europe (19). Football is made up of a team, and Lille have an uncanny striker, 35-year old Burak Yilmaz, who joined on a free transfer in August leading the charge scoring four and assisting one in his last four starts for Les Dogues. Lille to win away at 9/10 is value for money.


Saturday 8 May


Nantes 1/1

Draw 24/10

Bordeaux 26/10

(13:00)

Nantes have recorded back-to-back wins for the first time this season after defeating Brest 1-4 away. The fight against relegation sees the Canaries try and find their wings before it’s too late. Three places and five points up the table sits Bordeaux who secured their first win in five matches after failing to secure a point in April. Administration off the pitch for the Girondins have been tumultuous to say the least and a much needed three points to set a better mood in the locker room was surely welcomed by fans and employees alike. The away team’s previous victory was against the run of play, and Nantes have proven dominance over their last two fixtures but have also failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 18 games. Take the home team to win at even money.

Lyon 7/20

Draw 42/10

Lorient 58/10

(17:00)

Newly promoted Lorient has really won my heart with their grit, that never say die attitude, coming back from losing positions in six of their 12 wins this season speaks volumes of their attitude. In recent fixtures Lyon team failed to keep the title hopes within grasp in a 2-3 home defeat to Lille, and a week later, halted Monaco’s trophy aspirations in a 2-3 away win. The home team will be without Maxence Caqueret who received his marching orders during the Monaco victory, and after tension boiled over late in additional time, Mattia De Sciglio and Marcelo were also handed red cards in a scuffle with the opposition. Despite crucial starting XI suspensions, we can expect another win from Lyon and Over 2.5 Goals at 8/10.


Sunday 9 May

Saint-Etienne 9/4

Draw 26/10

Marseille 11/10

(13:00)

Saint-Etienne welcome Marseille to Stade Geoffrey-Guichard. Les Verts have been better on the road, than at home earning six more points in total. The Olympians have been woeful on the road this year, winning one of eight fixtures. Dimitri Payet has been excellent over the last five fixtures, scoring three and assisting five, and a goal coming through him is almost guaranteed. Marseille are tied for points for a European spot and you can expect Jorge Sampaoli to push for three points. Marseille on the road at 11/10.

Angers 17/20

Draw 51/20

Dijon 31/10

(15:00)

I have said it before and I’ll say it again, I do not see Dijon winning a fixture in their remaining games. Angers, on the other hand are on a torrid run of form failing to score in their last seven fixtures. The Black and Whites need four points to be clear of relegation and a matchup with already relegated Dijon is the perfect opportunity get three points. Angers will scoop up a full complement of points.

Nice 27/20

Draw 24/10

Brest 39/20

(15:00)

Nice have been beaten by the first place Lille and 20th place Dijon, so calling their fixtures is not an easy feat. The Eagles are undefeated at the Allianz Riviera over the last four league matches, and Brest have yet to defeat Nice in four attempts over the years. Brest are still without veteran midfielder Paul Lasne but have a boost in the return of Roman Philippoteaux who joined from Nimes in September last year. Double Chance Nice/Draw and Over 1.5 Goals at 7/10, is the way to go.

Metz 18/10

Draw 24/10

Nimes 29/20

(15:00)

Metz was my banker last game week, and rightly so, when they came up against Ligue 1 whipping boys Dijon. Now the Maroons are playing in their backyard against a struggling Nimes where the home team is in search of one point to be mathematically clear of relegation. Should the Crocodiles lose this fixture they will need to win their remaining fixtures to avoid relegation and this creates the setting for an interesting affair. Nimes will face two tough opponents in Lyon and Rennais after Metz, and on paper, this fixture should be the easier of the lot. Back the home team to set Nimes on their way to Ligue 2 for this weekend’s value bet.

Reims 6/1

Draw 36/10

Monaco 4/10

(17:05)

Monaco were in a gruesome fight to secure three points against Lyon over last weekend but failed to do so. Les Monegasques are still statistically able to secure a title, but the odds are now definitely against them. Niko Kovac will be without optional attacker Pietro Pellegri and teenage Willem Geubbels both red carded in a post-match scuffle. The opposition, Reims, need four points to clear themselves from a relegation battle but against a tactically brilliant Monaco, I cannot see where the difference come from. Monaco is this weekend’s banker, select the Matchbet + Over 1.5 Goals option at 7/10.

Rennes 37/10

Draw 3/1

Paris Saint-Germain 13/20

(21:00)

Rennes and Paris Saint-Germain have a long-standing history playing 57 games in total, scoring 144 goals in the process. Rennes are two points short of a European finish this season and their goal difference is superior to the two teams above them. The Red and Blacks have been spot-on in their last three home fixtures winning two games to nil, and their last game 5-1. The Parisians will still be licking their wounds after being knocked out of the Champions League. Their focus will undeniably be set on the Ligue 1 title, and the team has had their goal scoring boots on with 12 goals in their last four fixtures.  Backing PSG is not a difficult task and adding goals to the mix is easy when Rennes are the opposition. PSG to win at Half-Time is the call at 12/10 odds.

TREBLE @ 6/1

Nantes Win 1/1

Double Chance: Nice/Draw + Over 1.5 Goals – 7/10

Half-Time – PSG Win 12/10

Written by Joshua Gaillard