Strasbourg vs Olympique Lyon
Stade de la Meinau, Strasbourg
Sunday, 18-10-2020 @2pm
Strasbourg boast the joint-worst defence in the league with 13 goals conceded in six games. Lyon have won only one of their six Ligue 1 games, four of which ended level. Both teams have scored in each of the last five meetings between the pair.
Lyon just haven’t been able to get going in Ligue 1 and they are in danger of emulating last season’s disappointing seventh-placed finish.
Lyon have won only one of their six league games this season and they have failed to win on all three of their away trips to Bordeaux, Montpellier and Lorient.
The on-going speculation linking talisman Memphis Depay to a move away and the hangover from their Champions League semi-final defeat to Bayern Munich haven’t helped their cause. Another tough test is in store at Strasbourg.
However, Strasbourg aren’t the force they were last season and they have lost five of their six Ligue 1 games.
The hosts boast the joint-worst defence in the division with 13 goals conceded alongside rock-bottom Dijon, who they recorded their only win of the campaign against.
Angers vs Metz
Stade Reymond-Kopa, Angers
Sunday, 18-10-2020 @4pm
Angers come into this game in 12th place and have already shown signs of inconsistency, winning one week and losing the next.
Just before the international break they were humbled by PSG in Paris losing that game 6-1. Even though the score line was big Angers shouldn’t be too affected by that result given that PSG are simply on a different level to every club in the league right now.
Angers last game at home ended in a 3-2 win over Brest and they have won their last two games here. The tactic has to be simple for the club, win your home games.
Metz are in 15th place and although that doesn’t seem good and they started the season poorly they have really picked up in recent weeks. Indeed the club come into this game with no losses in their last 3 matches.
Metz’s last game ended in a good 3-1 win over Lorient. They scored half of their total goals this season in that one game. And if we were criticising he club in the early stages of the league it would be that in general they have been shy in front of goal.
Last season Angers beat Metz 3-0 in this fixture. Angers have won 3 of the last four meetings between the teams.
Monaco vs Montpellier
Stade Luis II, Monaco
Sunday, 18-10-2020 @4pm
Monaco have collected seven points from three home games this term. Montpellier are without a clean sheet in six league games, with five of their outings seeing the net bulge at both ends. Both teams have scored in three of the last four meetings.
Monaco and Montpellier are two sides who tend to save their best stuff for their own patch, so that ought to give Niko Kovac’s men a significant advantage this weekend.
Both sides have yielded ten points from six fixtures but Monaco are unbeaten in three home games, recording wins over Nantes and Strasbourg after a 2-2 draw with Reims.
Monaco, whose attack is highlighted by Wissam Ben Yedder, Kevin Volland and Stefan Jovetic, score goals freely but that can concede them at a similar rate.
Monaco’s three home games have featured 12 goals, with all of those matches seeing the net bulge at both ends.
Given Montpellier’s six games have included 20 goals – an average of 3.3 per game – it should be wise to expect an entertaining affair.
Montpellier have yet to keep a clean sheet in six league games this season, while Monaco have managed only one. It is also worth noting both teams have scored in three of the last four meetings.
Nantes vs Brest
Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
Sunday, 18-10-2020 @4pm
Nantes have started their campaign poorly and have just 1 victory this season so far. This has put the club down in 16th place and they would very much welcome a win at the weekend.
The club have gone their last four games without victory and have lost back to back games coming into this one. Those defeats came against Lille and Nice where they conceded 4 goals in those two games.
A win would only move Nantes up a couple of places but they are just two points from the bottom three. Their only win this season did come at home when they beat Nimes.
Brest recorded a superb victory in their last game when they beat Monaco 1-0 who had started the season well. Brest understand their objective is to have a strong home record and try for the odd points away from home. This match could be a very tricky one for the club.
Brest’s last away game ended in a 3-2 defeat at Angers.
Brest have four more points than their hosts and a win here would see them climb into the top 10. They are conceding too many goals though and have already let in 12, on the other hand they have scored 10 so far. All in all they are unpredictable but also exciting in these first moments of the Ligue 1 season.
The teams have not met at this stadium since 2010 when Brest won 4-1. The last time the clubs met was last season when they played out a 1-1 game. Their last 4 meetings in a row has seen both teams to score.
Saint Etienne vs Nice
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint Etienne
Sunday, 18-10-2020 @6pm
Saint-Etienne have won two of their three home matches this season. Les Verts have won their last three home meetings with Nice.Both teams have found the net at least once in four of their six matches this season.
Saint-Etienne’s superb start to the campaign quickly went awry before the international break, but Claude Puel’s side are fancied to hit back this Sunday against a Nice outfit who they beat comfortably at Stade Geoffroy Guichard last term.
Saint-Etienne made it a perfect three wins from three after triumphing 0-2 at Marseille in mid-September, but Les Verts were given a swift reality check at home just a week later by Rennes who ran out bloodless 0-3 winners.
A 2-0 defeat to Lens followed, pushing Les Verts down to seventh where they sit just above Nice on goal difference.
The break will have done Saint-Etienne the world of good and they should be anticipating the visit of Nice readily after brushing Les Aiglons aside 4-1 here last term.
That was Les Verts’ third consecutive home win against Nice and following two wins from three home starts this season.
Lille vs Lens
Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille
Sunday, 18-10-2020 @10pm
Lille come into this game in 3rd place and are only one of two clubs in Ligue 1 still unbeaten. They have won their last two games in a row and have scored 9 goals and conceded just twice. They have had a fantastic start and if they win and Rennes lose or draw they will go top of the table.
At home Lille have conceded just once this season so far and their last game ended in an easy 3-0 win away to Strasbourg. Their last home game finished in a 2-0 win against Nantes.
Lens have been the surprise package so far and have started very well and are in 4th place. They have lost just once and have won 4 of their six games played so far.
Their last game was impressive as they beat Saint Etienne 2-0 who were at the time in form. Away from home the club have gone their last two games unbeaten and their last away game finished in a 1-1 draw against Nimes.
The teams have not played each other at this stadium since 2015 when Lille won 3-1. Lens have no wins at Lille for the past 15 years.
Friday’s results
-Dijon 1-1 Rennes
-Nimes 0-4 PSG
Results on Saturday
-Reims 1-3 Lorient
-Marseille 3-1 Bordeaux