
Dijon vs Rennes
Stade Gaston-Gerard, Dijon
Friday, 16-10-2020 @8pm
Ref: Bastien Dechepy
Rennes have won seven of their last nine league games. Rennes have hit 14 goals in their six games so far. Dijon have lost five of their six games this season. Both teams have scored in five of the last six meetings between these two.
This clash pits together bottom club Dijon and league leaders Rennes, with the visitors looking like worthy favourites on current form.
Rennes have lost none of their last nine games in Ligue 1 (W7 D2), the best current run (alongside Lille) and their best since August-October 2010 (9).
They have been at the top of the league table for consecutive matchdays for the first time since 2010/11.
Rennes have scored 14 goals in Ligue 1 in 2020/21, their highest tally after six games of a Ligue 1 season since 1961/62. They should punish a Dijon side who have lost five of six games this season.
Nimes vs PSG
Stade des Costieres, Nimes
Friday, 16-10-2020 @10pm
Ref: Clement Turpin
Nimes and PSG will both be looking to build on respective victories in Ligue 1 when the two top-flight sides go head-to-head at the Stade des Costieres on Friday evening.
The hosts picked up a hard-fought 1-0 win over Montpellier before the international break, whereas PSG marched to their fourth triumph in a row over Angers in gameweek six.
Nimes headed into their clash with a resolute Montpellier side winless since the opening weekend of the season, and Les Crocodiles were certainly not expected to walk away from that encounter with one point let alone three.
Jerome Arpinon’s side stretched their unbeaten run in Ligue 1 to three matches as Renaud Ripart’s 84th-minute strike proved decisive on the night, with Nimes also managing to take a share of the spoils against Lyon and Lens before the international break.
Things are certainly starting to look up for Les Crocodiles, who will be heading into their encounter with PSG feeling refreshed and with a renewed sense of confidence following three respectable results.
Nimes have managed to distance themselves from the drop zone in recent weeks and now lie 13th in the table – a standing that Arpinon would no doubt be satisfied with come the end of the season – although there is still a long way to go of course.
Meanwhile, PSG are starting to look more like their familiar selves after a shaky start to the season, with the champions looking to secure their fifth victory on the bounce on Friday evening.
Thomas Tuchel’s side made light work of their showdown with Angers earlier this month – eventually running out 6-1 winners thanks to goals from Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Idrissa Gueye, Julian Draxler and Alessandro Florenzi.
The capital outfit have now notched up 12 goals in their last four matches and now find themselves in the top four – two points behind current table-toppers Rennes at this early stage of the season.
With just three goals conceded thus far, only Bordeaux and Lille boast a better defensive record than Tuchel’s men, although the PSG boss must also factor in a Champions League showdown with Manchester United when it comes to team selection.
PSG comfortably swept aside Nimes 3-0 in the only fixture between the two clubs last season, and the champions have not suffered defeat to Les Crocodiles since the 1992-93 campaign.
Nimes will be forced into one change in the heart of defence as Anthony Briancon will miss out through suspension, meaning that Pablo Martinez should deputise alongside Loick Landre.
Haris Duljevic has tested positive for coronavirus while Zinedine Ferhat is on the treatment table with an ankle problem, but new recruit Niclas Eliasson, who recently signed for Nimes from Bristol City, could make his debut on the left-hand side.
Birger Meling started for Norway in their Nations League showdown with Northern Ireland and is certainly not expected to feature from the off against PSG 48 hours later, so Florian Miguel should come back into the first XI here.
As for PSG, the upcoming Champions League showdown with United mixed with players starring for their international sides means that Tuchel will likely field a heavily-changed team for Friday’s encounter.
The likes of Mbappe, Marco Verratti, Leandro Paredes and Danilo Pereira all started in midweek for their respective countries and will surely be given the night off here, while fringe players such as Colin Dagba, Jese and new signing Rafinha could all be handed starts.
Marquinhos, Layvin Kurzawa and Angel Di Maria are all suspended, while defensive duo Thilo Kehrer and Juan Bernat are sidelined through injury.
The other upcoming Ligue One fixtures
Saturday, 17-10-2020
-Rennes vs Lorient @6pm
-Olympique Marseille vs Bordeaux @8pm
Sunday, 18-10-2020
-Strasbourg vs Olympique Lyon @2pm
-Angers vs Metz @4pm
-Monaco vs Montpellier @4pm
-Nantes vs Brest @4pm
-Saint Etienne vs Nice @6pm
-Lille vs Lens