We’re just eight weeks into the new French Ligue 1 season and already PSG have an almost unassailable eight-point lead from Lille in second place. Shockingly, Monaco find themselves in the relegation/play-off place at the moment with only Nantes and Guingamp starting the season worse. This weekend’s big fixture sees Lyon travel to the capital to take on PSG in a match that the visitors absolutely have to win if they are to stand any chance of competing for league honours. Elsewhere, Toulouse host Nice on Friday evening while Marseille take on Caen.
Friday 5 October
Toulouse 5/4
Draw 9/4
Nice 22/10
(20:45)
Toulouse’s fine start to the season continued last weekend as they managed to snatch a draw away at Stade Rennais despite having played almost half of the match with 10 men. The point moved them into seventh on the standings with last season’s strugglers keeping pace with the likes of Marseille and Lyon. Nice have been inconsistent at best this season and find themselves down in 13th position on the standings as a result. They were comfortably beaten at home last time out by PSG and will be do well to come away with anything at Toulouse. Back the home side to claim the points here.
Saturday 6 October
Lille 21/20
Draw 47/20
St. Etienne 26/10
(17:00)
Lille have very much been the surprise package so far this season. They cruised to a stunning 3-0 at home against Marseille last time out and tightened their grip on second place. You’d expect an in-form St. Etienne side to provide a sterner test this week, however. St. Etienne have gone on to beat Monaco, Toulouse and Caen following their 4-0 defeat away at PSG – their only defeat of the season thus far. They’ll be satisfied with a point, I’m sure, but will no doubt love to come away with all three. Tough one to call this. Both teams are in excellent form but you can’t look past St. Etienne. Back the visitors on the Win/Draw at 7/10.
Guingamp 7/4
Draw 21/10
Montpellier 17/10
(20:00)
Guingamp – despite picking up a draw and a win in their last two games – have endured a terrible start to the season and shouldn’t prove much of a match for high-flying Montpellier. Take the away side with confidence here at 17/10.
Amiens 27/20
Draw 9/4
Dijon 2/1
(20:00)
If early season form is anything to go by Amiens are in for a long, hard slog this season. They will fancy their chances, however, against a Dijon outfit who are in terrible form. Christophe Pelissier’s side aren’t faring much better with just a single victory in their last four games. Dijon were very much one of the early pace-setters but fell off the bus after a 2-0 defeat against Caen on 1 September. Since then, they’ve only managed a single point in five fixtures. It’s always difficult trying to pick a result when two teams are in such terrible form. Perhaps Under 2.5 Goals is the way to go at 7/10.
Angers 13/10
Draw 22/10
Strasbourg 22/10
(20:00)
Despite going down 1-0 against at home against bottom side Guingamp last week, Angers will fancy their chances this weekend. Prior to that shock defeat, they took 10 points from four games beating the likes of Lille, Dijon and Monaco along the way. Strasbourg are also enjoying a decent run at the minute and have only tasted defeat once in their last four outings – and that came away at Marseille. Despite this, I still think the home side are the way to go here at 13/10.
Nimes 5/4
Draw 9/4
Stade Reims 9/4
(20:00)
This should be an interesting tussle as two of the division’s new boys go head to head. Both have struggled a bit after enjoying bright starts with the hard work starting now. Nimes have only managed three points in their last six games, all of which came from draws. Reims have fared about the same. Three points from their last six matches, also all coming by the way of draws. This is a fixture you want to avoid, it really could go any way with both teams battling at the minute. The draw looks likely, but don’t add to any weekend multiples.
Sunday 7 October
Bordeaux 11/10
Draw 9/4
Nantes 51/20
(15:00)
Bordeaux are certainly one of the form teams in the league at the minute and look fantastic value to pick up all three points against second-bottom Nantes. Get on the home side and add to all weekend multiples, definitely one of the best bets of the weekend this.
Marseille 7/20
Draw 17/4
Caen 15/2
(17:00)
Marseille have struggled away from home this season by have only dropped two points at the Orange Velodrome this season in a 2-2 draw with Stade Rennais. Looking at their home form in isolation, they really shouldn’t have any issues getting past Caen. Caen did grab a victory over Amiens last weekend and a draw against Montpellier before that. Both of those results came at home, though. Marseille away is a completely different prospect will undoubtedly prove a bridge too far. Get on Marseille to claim the points here at 7/20.
Monaco 12/10
Draw 24/10
Stade Rennais 9/4
(17:00)
Monaco have endured a dire run of form this season that has seen them fall into the bottom three. They’ve only picked up two points in their last six outings and will be desperate to get back to winning ways. Whether or not a squad that has been decimated in the transfer market over the last few seasons has it in them to turn things around remains to be seen. Stade Rennais aren’t in the best touch themselves and only find themselves two places above Monaco in the standings. They did manage to arrest a three-match losing streak last week as they grabbed a 1-1 draw at home against Toulouse. Monaco simply have to come good. Their squad isn’t nearly as strong as it has been in recent years, but they’re certainly not relegation fodder. Home win for me.
PSG 7/20
Draw 9/2
Lyon 57/10
(21:00)
PSG have – as many expected – enjoyed a very strong start to the season. They’ve won all eight of their domestic fixtures this season and enjoy a sizable buffer at the top of the league. It’s no secret that Thomas Tuchel has been brought in to win the Champions League with the French champions, but it is nice to see that he’s still putting out strong sides in the league. They’ve scored a staggering 27 goals and conceded just six this season. Lyon haven’t started the season well. Four draws, two defeats and two draws sees them languishing in fifth place, 10 points off Sunday’s opposition. It’s a pity too because many thought that they’d be able to challenge PSG this season, especially after managing to hang onto Nabil Fekir. Back PSG to claim the points here at 7/20.
TREBLE @ 8/1
St. Etienne Win/Draw 7/10
Montpellier Win 17/10
Bordeaux Win 11/10
Written by Jason Dewey