Ligue 1 - Round 14 Sunday fixtures

After an International weekend it’s nice to get back to the domestic game. So far this weekend we’ve seen Monaco drop points again and Lille throw away a lead again and PSG win, again.

Weekend results so far:

Monaco 2 V Lille 2

(Diatta 41, Ben Yedder 83) (David 5 PEN, 9)

PSG 3 V Nantes 1

(Mbappe 2, Appiah 81 OG, Messi 87 - Navas sent off 75) (Kolo Muani 76)

Rennes 2 V Montpellier 0

(Terrier 8, Majer 28) (Savanier sent off 41)

Brest V Lens - Kicks off at 12:00 - Live on BT Sport 2

Brest had been twelve games without a win and have now won back to back. A huge 2-0 home victory over Monaco was followed by a 2-1 win at Lorient last time out. Les Pirates had gone 1-0 down early on in the game but were helped by Lorient having a man sent off after 28 minutes. It took until the second half for Brest to take the advantage. Romain Faivre equalised from the penalty spot with his fourth goal of the season. The attacking midfielder also has four assists and along with Franck Honorat (4 goals 1 assist) is essential to the Bretons' chances of staying up. The winner however came from striker Steve Mounié who diverted in right back Ronaël Pierre-Gabriel's cross shot from close range. That was the Beninese striker's third goal of the season and lifts Brest out of the relegation zone, all be it on goal difference.

Two wins on the trot and four games unbeaten relieves the pressure on manager Michel Der Zakarian. Brest have no new injuries or suspensions so should be right up for this one. They come up against a tough opponent here in their second consecutive Breton Derby.

Lens were sensational in their demolition of Troyes in their last game. Les Lensois battered their opponents particularly in the first half. Troyes couldn’t cope with the Bretons fast attacking play and were 3-0 down by half time. Both of Lens’ wing backs marauded forward but it was Jonathan Clauss on the right that owned the first half. His pinpoint crosses were finished by Kalimuendo, then brilliantly by Said with a side flicked volley. Clauss then scored himself to make it 3-0. It was a fantastic performance from the attacking defender and there are a few clamours for him to be included in the French squad. He now has two goals and six assists this season.

Clauss started the move in the second half which led to his fellow wing back Przemysław Frankowski scoring Lens‘ fourth goal. That was the Polish International’s fourth goal of the season. He also has two assists which shows how integral the wing backs are to this team. There were other chances for Les Sangs est Ors to extend their lead but it finished 4-0. A brilliant performance from a quality team who’s recent form has been up and down of late. They are capable of beating anyone on their day though and are pushing for Europe this season. It’s a shame that Franck Haise will be without strikers Florian Sotoca (2 goals, 3 assists) and Wesley Said ( 4 goals) for this game through suspension and injury respectively. Ignatius Ganago should get a start in their place.

French Footy prediction: Brest 1 V Lens 2

Strasbourg V Reims - Kicks off at 14:00

Strasbourg have struggled for consistency this season but Julien Stéphan is getting some good results out of his new team. The last five games have seen two wins, two draws and a narrow loss at a very good Rennes team. They are particularly good at home in front of fervent, but well behaved fans. In their last game they drew 2-2 at Nantes. In a close game Strasbourug managed to equalise twice despite being down to ten men for forty minutes. Habib Diallo had cancelled out Nantes’ early goal with his 7th goal of the season. The Senegalese striker is having a good season and was a threat throughout the game.

The match looked to have turned on 51 minutes when Diallo played in strike partner Ludovic Ajorque who tried to shoot but missing the ball, kicked through a defender instead. There was no intent to injure the player but was deemed as dangerous so Ajorque was sent off. He will be a big miss for this game as he is possibly Les Coureurs‘ best player this season with five goals and five assists. Already a goal down Strasbourg managed to get back on level terms. Adrien Thomasson headed in a free kick for his 4th goal this campaign. Strasbourg will be confident of getting another result at home against a struggling team but will be without some key players. As well as Ajorque, Anthony Caci, Strasbourg’s only recognised left back is suspended. Striker Kevin Gameiro is also out with injury. We could see Majeed Waris start up front with Diallo or perhaps Stéphan will prefer to start with one striker up front.

Reims earned a decent point at home to Monaco in their last game but are now five games without a win. The Champagne club now lie in 16th but are only goal difference away from the 18th relegation play off place. Oscar Garcia has installed a nice brand of passing football to his new young squad but they struggle to score goals.

Hugo Elitike remains their top scorer on four goals and they have only managed 14 all season. 0-0 at home to Monaco is fine but Reims have to start beating the teams around them in order to survive. It’s difficult to see them get anything at the Stade De La Meinau.

French Footy prediction: Strasbourg 2 V Reims 0

Angers V Lorient - Kicks off at 14:00

Angers continue to tick along nicely. At no stage have they looked remotely like a relegation threatened team which they often have been in previous years. They sit comfortably in 9th after their sixth draw of the season at Lille. Despite going behind to the Champions early Les Scoistes were always in the game. With regular goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni out with sickness Danijel Petković got a rare start. It was the Montenegrin’s first appearance this season and he made some exceptional saves to keep the one goal deficit.

Gerald Baticle’s side finally equalised on 83 minutes. Sofiane Boufal and Bilal Brahimi combined well to set up Azzedine Ounahi for his second goal of the season. Angers are without a win in four games but in that time only lost narrowly to PSG and Nice. They will be without forward Angelo Fulgini (2 goals 1 assist) for this game due to suspension and Bernardoni is a doubt with his lingering illness.

Lorient started well in their last game at home to Breton rivals Brest but threw away an early lead to lose their second successive game. Les Merlus scored early after a great run from Terem Moffi set up Adrian Grbic for his first goal of the season. The Austrian striker was only playing due to injuries to Armand Laurienté and Stephane Diarra but profited from Moffi's power and pace to smash in from close range. That was Moffi's third assist of the season. The game changed though when wing back Jérôme Hergault was sent off for a bad challenge after just 28 minutes. This wasn't Lorient's day as VAR overturned the initial yellow card for Hergault to a red then later advised the Referee to award a penalty for a hand ball in the area. The penalty was dispatched before Brest went on to get the winner. Lorient had a good start to the season but after one win in eight games they have sunk to 13th in the table. More worryingly they are only three points above Bordeaux in 18th place. It's tough times for manager Christophe Pélissier.

His team need to pick up points over the next five games or they will really be dragged in to the relegation scrap. He has a lot of injuries to contend with as Laurienté, Diarra, and midfielders Thomas Monconduit and Fabien Lemoine are still injured whilst left wing back Vincent Le Goff will face a late fitness test. Hergault will miss the next two matches after his recent red card. That's a lot of important players to be missing.

French Footy Prediction: Angers 2 V Lorient 1

Metz V Bordeaux- Kicks off at 14:00 - Live on BT Sport 2

Metz still have just a solitary victory this season but put in a great performance at Marseille last time out. They won a valuable point at one of the leagues better sides and kept their first clean sheet since April. In the first half they really took the game to Marseille and hit the post twice through left wing back Thomas Delaine. Metz do carry a threat from their wing/full backs (depending on their formation) with Delaine on the left and Fabian Centonze on the right. Delaine (pictured) with his skill and accurate crossing and Centonze with his strong forward runs.

Les Grenats did get the ball in the back of the net but the goal was correctly ruled out for offside. After 56 minutes of play Brazilian defender Jemerson made things difficult for his side by getting sent off for a rash challenge. However Metz carried on playing and had two good chances to score. They could well have won the game had one of them gone in. That’s Metz’s problem. They don’t score enough goals, just two in the last four games. Manager Frédéric Antonetti must be delighted with how his team performed though and the grit the showed to see out a result with ten men for over half an hour. Metz will be without Jemerson this weekend after his red card and fellow defender Matthieu Udol is out for the season through injury.

Bordeaux are on a decent run of form in comparison to how badly they started this season. Two draws and a win were followed by a narrow home defeat to PSG. Les Bordelais had been 3-0 down but fought back to give Paris a scare with goals from strikers Alberth Elis and M’Baye Niang. Neither have played much this season due to star striker Hwang Ui-Jo being a guaranteed starter. With Hwang still out with an ankle injury both took their chances well. The Honduran tapped in from close range after good work from Yacine Adli whilst Niang finished off a lovely one two with Jimmy Briand. Adli was also involved in the build up to Niang’s goal. The 21 year old midfielder played well and earlier forced Navas in to a good save with a shot from distance.

Adli has already signed for A.C Milan who he will join at the end of this season. Bordeaux will be hoping he continues to perform like this to help keep them up. Les Girondins have fought back several times this season but it’s often been too little too late. They showed their frailty against Paris by pressing far to high and being undone by PSG’s pace. Vladimir Petković is slowly stamping his authority on the team but it’s a work in progress.

French Footy prediction: Metz 1 V Bordeaux 1

Troyes V Saint Étienne - Kicks off at 14:00

Troyes had their best run of results recently with two wins and a draw. However in their last game they were well beaten by a quality, on song Lens team. Laurent Battles’ team just came up against a better side and could have been beaten by more than just the four unanswered goals.

L’ESTAC haven’t always got the rewards their performances have deserved this season but they are hard to beat at home with just two home losses. Batlles will be hoping that striker Yohan Touzghar and midfielder Tristan Dingome will be fit after respective back and thigh injuries. Touzghar only has two goals this season but his physical presence unsettles defences and Troyes have more of a focal point when he plays.

Finally. In their 13th game Saint Étienne at last got their first win of the season. It’s a vital three points in their bid to stay in Ligue 1, which I still think they’ll do. The nature of the win should give Les Stephanois huge confidence. Played in an empty Stade Geoffroy-Guichard due to recent crowd trouble neither side threatened much in the first half. The hugely under pressure Claude Puel must have though it was going to be another winless afternoon especially after watching his team go 2-0 down. Then on 78 minutes Arnaud Nordin made the most of some poor defending to pull one back. The 23 year old winger started on the bench but kept his composure well to get his first goal of the season.

Another substitute, Jean-Philippe Krasso, equalised from a corner in the 92nd minute. That was the German strikers first goal for Les Verts. Another corner two minutes later saw centre back Saïdou Sow score the winner. It must have been a huge relief for the players, staff and Claude Puel. Puel must have thick skin. This season has seen him escorted home by police, face signs outside the training ground demanding he leave and an awful run of form. Whether you like his coaching methods or not his stoicism should be admired. That win took Les Verts off the bottom of the table and dragged Clermont down to within four points of them. If they can win this game they have a real chance of turning their season around. Their away form is poor and Troyes’ quite good but I fancy Saint here.

French Footy prediction: Troyes 1 V Saint Étienne 2.

Clermont Foot V Nice - Kicks off at 16:00 - Live on BT Sport 2

As mentioned above Clermont threw away a two goal lead in their last game against Saint Étienne. Mohamed Bayo opened the scoring with his seventh league goal of the season. Bayo was also involved in the second when his dummy from Allevinah‘s pass gave Jason Berthomier space to fire in a left foot finish. That was the 31 year old midfielders first ever goal in the top flight of French football.

From there it all went wrong for Les Lanciers. Captain Jonathan Iglesias misplaced an interception which fell to Saint Étienne who scored. Clermont then lost two goals from corners in stoppage time to lose their third game in a row. Losing in that manner to the only team yet to win this season will be sickening to Coach Pascal Gastien. Clermont are doing ok considering this is their first ever season in Ligue 1. They lie in 15th but are only a point from the bottom three. They could really do with a result here but it will be difficult against one of the best teams in the league. Midfielder Johan Gastien is available for this game after suspension whilst defender Cédric Hountondji is out with a groin injury.

Nice are one of the strongest teams in Ligue 1 this season with arguably the best Coach in Christophe Galtier. However their form has been patchy of late and they have won just two of their last five games. Their latest match was a surprising 1-0 home defeat to Montpellier. Les Aiglons had plenty of chances in that game and dominated possession but couldn't make the most of either. Les Nicois are also now struggling with an ever increasing injury list. Long term absentees Justin Kluivert and Robson Bambu have now been joined by midfielder Hichem Boudaoui (2 goals 1 assist), attacking wing back Youcef Atal (who was just hitting form 1 goal and 1 assist), defender Melvin Bard and most importantly striker Amine Gouiri (5 goals 2 assists). Thankfully Danish striker Kasper Dolberg should be fit after injuries have upset his season so far. The 24 year old will hopefully partner Andy Delort up front. If Dolberg is fit that strike pairing should cause problems for Clermont. Dolberg has three goals in eight games this season whilst Delort has seven goals and two assists.

Even with their injuries if Nice are on song they should have too much for Clermont.

French Footy prediction: Clermont Foot 1 V Nice 2

Lyon V Marseille - Kicks off at 19:45 - Live on BT Sport

This fixture is always a big game but given both teams patchy form they each really need a win here. Lyon are flying in Europe, winning all four of their Europa League games to top their group. Their league form is up and down however and they keep dropping important points. Over their last five games they have drawn at struggling rivals Saint Étienne, beat Monaco, thrown away a two goal lead to lose at Nice, narrowly beat a very good Lens team then been thrashed at Rennes. The 4-1 drubbing in Brittany before the latest International break could have been so much worse. Lyon can thank their Portuguese goalkeeper Anthony Lopes for keeping the score as low as four. The 31 year old made a string of saves to stop the match becoming a real embarrassment.

Lucas Paquetá did win and convert a late penalty but not before arguing with Houssem Aouar about who should take it. Aouar is the designated penalty taker but had the ball taken off him by the Argentinian playmaker. There was also a dispute between centre back Jerome Boateng and right back Léo Dubois with Boateng seeming to harangue his Captain for poor positioning. Both were keen to play down the first half incident after the game but it showed Les Gones' lack of organisation. Was this just a bad day or has Peter Bosz got some serious issues to resolve? Lyon have been brilliant at times this season but shown up at others. They miss striker Moussa Dembele who is still a doubt with a persistent calf injury. Xerdan Shaqiri had a decent start after being signed from Liverpool but has done little since and didn't even come off the bench against Rennes. Forward Tino Kadewere remains unavailable due to suspension. Bosz needs a reaction from his team here against difficult opponents.

Marseille too are struggling for form. Les Marseillais are on a run of just two wins in eleven games. Despite drawing against some good teams in that time (PSG, Nice, Lazio) their lack of goals has been concerning. Their all out attack style has been tempered of late and they have at least starting keeping clean sheets (7 in 12 games). They are struggling to score with as much frequency as they were which is causing them to drop so many points. The last match at Metz was a disaster. Playing at home against a team second to bottom in the league and with only one victory all season should have been a routine win for L'OM. Jorge Sampaoli saw his team under the cosh from the start however with Metz hitting the post twice early on and scoring a goal which was correctly ruled out for offside. Marseille's best chance of the first half came to Dimitri Payet who smashed a 20 yard shot against the bar.

In the second half L'OM had chances particularly through Luis Henrique but the Brazilian winger hit his shot directly at the Keeper. With Metz having a man sent off on 56 minutes you would think Marseille would have won. They had to rely on goalkeeper Steve Mandanda to make two crucial saves to keep the score level. I was shocked to see Mandanda back in goal after losing his place to Pau Lopez over the last 14 games. Lopez has grown in to the team and done well. Sampaoli explained after the game that Mandanda had needed a rest and Lopez had done particularly well so kept his starting place for an extended period. However with Mandanda well rested and looking back on form in training he gave the Frenchman a chance. It will be interesting to see who starts in goal at Lyon. Marseille will be without influential winger Cengiz Ünder as he has a back injury. He will be a big miss as Marseille alway carry more threat with him in the side. Defender Leonardo Balerdi remains out through suspension so Duje Ćaleta-Car should keep his place. Marseille like Lille will have no fans at away games for the rest of 2021 due to crowd violence in previous games.

French Footy prediction: Lyon 2 V Marseille 2 - Live on BT Sport 2