Welcome back to the Last Word on Football’s Ligue 1 previews and predictions. We have reached the 23rd round of games. Paris Saint-Germain head to Nantes, Lille face Rennes and Marseille head to Saint Etienne. There is also a key clash at the bottom as Nimes host Dijon.
Ligue 1 Predictions
Nimes and Dijon Battle in Key Relegation Clash
Two struggling sides clash as Nimes welcome Dijon. Both are stuck in the relegation battle. However, both are fresh off excellent victories at the weekend.
Bernard Blaquart’s Nimes collected a priceless win against Monaco while Dijon thrashed Brest. The pressure is on home side Nimes to secure a win. They are six points adrift of Dijon and need to claw them back into the scrap at the bottom.
Recent history is on Nimes’ side having three of the last four meetings with Dijon. However, the visitors are in a confident mood after thrashing Brest. Stephan Jobard’s team are seeking a third win in four games. A win would see Dijon pull nine points clear of Nimes.
Two Key Games in the Battle for European Football
Round 23 also gives us two crucial games in the battle for European football. Third place Rennes travel to fourth place Lille while Reims and Nice face off with both sides two points off the top four.
Lille stopped their losing rot at the weekend but need to close the gap on third place Rennes. Six points separate third and fourth in Ligue 1. Christophe Galtier and Julian Stephan both know their sides need to collect three points. Victor Osimhen is back amongst the goals while Raphinha is turning to Rennes’s key man. Both will feature in this key encounter.
In addition to Lille against Rennes, there is another big game as Reims and Nice meet. Both teams are on the cusp of the Champions League places and need to collect maximum points. Reims collected an outstanding win at Angers, scoring four goals. Nice is slowly finding consistency going unbeaten in their last six games. Goals, in general, have been in short supply for both sides.
LWOF Ligue 1 Predictions
Tuesday’s Games
Lille v Rennes
A crucial clash between two of the top four in Ligue 1. Lille have won five of the last nine, while Rennes have won seven of their last nine.
Lille 1-0 Rennes
Monaco v Angers
Roberto Moreno remains on the hunt for his first league win as Monaco manager. Four winless games including three consecutive losses. Their season is dwindling further. Angers’ form is no better collecting just seven points from their last eight games. A must-win game for Monaco with the pressure increasing.
Monaco 2-0 Angers
Nantes v Paris Saint-Germain
Nantes’ form is patchy losing three of their last four. Leaders PSG are in red hot form winning their last nine of their last ten collecting 28 points out of 30.
Nantes 1-3 Paris Saint Germain
Wednesday’s Games
Brest v Bordeaux
Two inconsistent sides clash. Brest have won just three of their last eleven league games. Its one win in six for Bordeaux.
Brest 1-2 Bordeaux
Lyon v Amiens
With many of the teams around them playing each other, Lyon need to secure a third win in four games. They face Amiens whose form is rotten. The visitors haven’t won since the beginning of November. Ten games without a win for Amiens.
Lyon 3-0 Amiens
Montpellier v Metz
Montpellier are looking to respond following their heavy loss to PSG. Prior to that, they’d won their last three league games. In contrast, Metz’s has turned around in 2020. They’ve won all three league games and remain the only side not to drop points in the new year. Montpellier are excellent at home and this one will be tight.
Montpellier 1-0 Metz
Nimes v Dijon
Key game in the relegation battle. Both are fresh off crucial wins. Nimes looking for back to back wins for the first time this season. The visitors are hunting a third win in four games.
Nimes 2-1 Dijon
Reims v Nice
Two sides fresh off wins clash and locked together in the table meet. Reims are hunting back to back wins. Nice is looking to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches.
Reims 0-1 Nice
Saint Etienne v Marseille
Saint Etienne’s form is rotten. They have lost five of their last six games. Overall, they have amassed seven points from their last nine games. In contrast, Marseille are flying high. Andre Villas-Boas’ team are unbeaten in 11 games winning eight.
Saint Etienne 1-1 Marseille
Toulouse v Strasbourg
Toulouse stopped their eleven-match losing streak with a point at Amiens. However, they are twelve league games without a win. Strasbourg has lost two of their last three games but have won four of their last six. Strasbourg hasn’t drawn a league game since August.
Toulouse 1-3 Strasbourg
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