Ligue 1 is back following the winter break and the Coupe de France and, despite Paris Saint-Germain’s, 19-point lead at the top, we couldn’t be more excited for its return.
Lyon open their brand new stadium against Troyes, Marseille will try to win at home against Guingamp and Lille boss Frederic Antonetti faces his old side Nice at the Stade Pierre Mauroy.
SCO Angers v SM Caen: 19:00 Saturday – @Gibney_A
Back to league action for the first time this year and Saturday gives us a mouth-watering clash at the Stade Jean-Bouin. Predicted by no one before the start of the season, fourth place SM Caen travel to meet third-placed Angers in what should be an excellent and tight affair.
Both teams like to play on the break, but with a buoyant home crowd behind them, Stephane Moulin’s side may have to take the initiative this weekend. Hopefully, both teams don’t sit back waiting for the other to strike – someone needs to take the lead.
Patrice Garande has always played with an element of attacking flair, and with his side unaffected by the winter transfer window thus far, he will be hoping the Normand club can pick their form up at the start of the new year.
Defeat against Marseille saw them knocked out of the Coupe de France, and with their last win coming five games ago against Bordeaux, this would be a huge morale-boosting victory if they can pull it off.
Angers go into the game without both Ludovic Butelle and Abdoul Camara, having seen them move to pastures new this week. Goalkeeper Butelle joined Club Brugges, with Camara moving to Derby County.
SCO have done a great job in replacing both players. Denis Petric has joined from Troyes and Mohamed Yattara returns for his second loan spell, joining from Standard Liege. Both are like for like signings and should settle into Moulin’s squad quickly.
Too close to call, but this has the potential to be a great spectacle.
AS Monaco v GFC Ajaccio: 19:00 Saturday – @Philby1976
Going into this match, both teams are unbeaten and with nine points from their last five league games. Monaco are second, and Gazelec are on a great run – unbeaten in nine – that has seen them escape the relegation zone and get up to twelfth.
However, Monaco have been fighting on multiple fronts and their last five games in all competitions are a much more mixed bag, including the 4-1 hammering by Spurs to go out of the Europa League, the 3-0 loss to Bordeaux in the Coupe de la Ligue, and the most one-sided result in the Coupe de France as they beat DHR side St-Jean-Beaulieu 10(ten)-2, featuring Lacina Traore scoring four then getting sent off for a scuffle at half-time. Last season, Monaco were defensively solid and reasonably consistent; this season, ‘unpredictable’ is where it’s at. The defence is no great shakes, Subasic has had some bad moments, nobody has more than three goals in the league, and they are 14th on home form.
Gazelec, meanwhile, saw off Sainte-Marienne (DH) from Reunion 2-0 on a waterlogged pitch. Their away form – possibly connected to that pitch – is impressive, and Mohamed Larbi is up near the top of the scoring charts with six, followed by Jacques Zoua on four.
Monaco are clear favourites for this odds-wise, but Gazelec are a classic ‘nothing to lose’ side who seem to be greatly enjoying their run; against anxious opponents, they should make this a closer encounter than their respective positions suggest.
Lille OSC v OGC Nice: Sunday 16:00 – @rich_allen85
Lille host Nice on Sunday afternoon in what promises to be an intriguing match up. Since taking charge at the end of November, Frederic Antonetti has proven something of a magician as Lille have gone on to win five of the seven games he’s been in the dugout for. After looking timid and clueless at times under Herve Renard, Lille now look refreshed. Chief benefactors of this change in style have been Eric Bautheac and Yassine Benzia, who both now look dangerous and threatening going forward. Added to the positivity growing at the club is the return of Rony Lopes. The young attacking midfielder has recently re-joined the club on loan from Monaco and will look to add another dimension to an improving front line.
After such an excellent start to the season, things have just derailed slightly for Nice in recent weeks. Since their excellent win over Lyon in week 14, les Aiglons have only recorded one win in seven games, a run that includes a loss to Toulouse and being knocked out of both cups on penalties. Claude Puel will be keen to put that right on Sunday to ensure they don’t lose too much momentum in the league. They will have to do without midfield revelation Vincent Koziello after the youngster saw red in the penalty shootout defeat to Rennes last week. His absence might not be felt as much if Hatem Ben Arfa can replicate his performance in that same match. The mercurial midfielder was at his dazzling best with a performance that had been missing for some weeks.
This will be a tight game that will hopefully see some entertaining football being played but Lille has the form, home advantage and the return of Lopes which should just give them the edge.
PREDICTIONS
