Saint-Etienne v Metz

Saint-Etienne host Metz on Sunday in an encounter that is bound to be pivotal in the relegation battle.

The home side have been in good form of late. Although they lost to PSG last weekend, they had been undefeated in their three previous matches. January signings have given them fresh impetus, and while they might not have shored the defence up as they might have wished, a return of eight goals at the other end in their last four matches is healthy. 

Metz, meanwhile, are coming off the back of successive draws against Lille and Nantes, while it is their away record this season that is keeping them in with a shout of safety. Unlike their hosts, they are having huge problems finding the net. Metz have scored only two goals in their last seven league matches, with each of those three draws they have earned the 0-0 variety.

While Sainté will doubtless give them a chance to score, the home side’s newfound attacking power should have Metz worried. They lost 1-0 in Saint-Etienne around this time last year, and a similar outcome would not be a big surprise in this match.

All eyes for the home team will be on the fitness of key attacker Wahbi Khazri. Their leading scorer is presently doubtful and their success or failure could hinge on having him available. When the sides last met in October, he scored a remarkable goal from close to the halfway line, underscoring his ability to turn a match.

---

Bordeaux v Troyes

Bordeaux host Troyes on Sunday chasing just a third home victory of the season. It is another Ligue 1 encounter this weekend that is set to have a profound impact on the relegation battle, with both these sides sitting on 22 points.

It is the home team that carry more momentum into this game. Successive draws against Monaco and Clermont in new coach David Guion’s first matches in charge should provide them with some confidence they can claim the three points, especially since they have taken the lead in both those fixtures.

Key forward Alberth Elis is set to be available for Guion for the first time, giving a valuable boost to a capable attack, although there is some muted concern over Hwang Ui-jo, who has also been in good form a Bordeaux side that has looked far more organised under their new boss.

Troyes, meanwhile, have failed to sparkle under Bruno Irles, who arrived over the winter. After winning their first match , they have endured a five-match winless run that includes defeats against Angers, Brest and Rennes away from home.

They have been conceding goals freely on the road – 11 in the aforementioned three games – and while they are likely to tighten up for this match, it seems doubtful that they will do so sufficiently to thwart their hosts. 

ESTAC have, at least, managed to score in their last three away games, which gives both teams to score some value, but backing Bordeaux for a rare win offers healthy returns.

---

Nantes v Montpellier

Nantes are on a massive high after qualifying for the final of the Coupe de France on Wednesday thanks to a penalty shootout success over Monaco at home. A mass pitch invasion greeted their victory, which was amply merited in view of how Antoine Kombouare has turned the club around in the last year.

Stade de la Beaujoire has become a fortress for Nantes in recent times. They have won four of their last five league matches at the venue, including a 3-1 win over PSG a fortnight ago.

The possibility of a midweek hangover, though, is not one that should be readily dismissed. Nantes’ players may feel like their season is now a success regardless of what happens in the league, while the announcement that leading scorer Randal Kolo Muani will sign for Frankfurt at the end of the season is a further possible distraction.

Montpellier may be out of form, but they are capable of taking advantage. They have lost four of their last five, but showed against Rennes last weekend the flashes of offensive quality that they undoubtedly possess. They also boast a good record against Nantes, against whom they are undefeated in three, including a 2-1 win at the Beaujoire last season.

With the visiting team depleted defensively and struggling notably without Mamadou Sakho, and the home side vulnerable and distracted by events elsewhere, the probability is that both teams find the net in this game.

---

Rennes v Angers

Rennes are a side bang in form at present. The Breton club have been steamrollering opponents on a regular basis in recent weeks, particularly at home. Bordeaux were defeated 6-0, Brest downed 2-0 and Troyes swept away 4-1 in recent times. Such form has led visiting boss Gerald Baticle to warn his players that Rennes are playing the best football anywhere in Europe right now.

Certainly, the fluency with which Rennes are playing at the moment is impressive. They have scored four goals in each of their last two matches, with their 4-2 success over Montpellier last weekend one of their most formidable of the season.

An injury is set to keep creative player Lovro Majer on the sidelines, which could handicap their offensive work, though with Jeremy Doku and Kamaldeen Sulemana to return, Bruno Genesio’s side are not short of craft.

Angers, meanwhile, will simply try to resist. They are in danger of being drawn into the relegation battle after losing each of their last five games, as well as eight of their last 10 in all competitions. They did, however, threaten an improved result against Lens last weekend and were leading 1-0 until the closing stages, when they were reduced to 10 men and conceded twice.

While there could be value in backing Rennes with a handicap, this derby has historically been a tight fixture and has rarely been a blowout one way or the other. The exception was Rennes’ 3-0 win in Angers last season.

---

Reims v Strasbourg

Reims are set to come through a testing period of the season relatively unscathed. Oscar Garcia’s men have been battered by injury problems for the last month but have climbed to 31 points, meaning that relegation should not be on the agenda for them this term. That is a success in itself.

Last weekend, they secured one of their most impressive wins of the season by coming from behind to win 2-1 at Monaco, despite having that severely depleted squad. It means they have lost only one of their last four.

Reims, though, have not faced a team in that time as filled with confidence as Strasbourg. Racing’s form since the beginning of October has been superb, with just three defeats in their last 18 in the league. Furthermore, their away form has improved dramatically. They have won four of their last six away from home.

With the home side a team that typically struggles to score goals and Strasbourg having kept three clean sheets in their last four matches, the visiting side should be backed to improve their strong record in recent times.

Reims’ injury crisis has eased a little over the last week, with Moreto Cassama notably fit again, but they are still depleted in defence and will struggle to handle Strasbourg’s array of attacking options. The guests may have drawn a blank last weekend, but that was against Nice, one of the best organised teams in the league. It is unlikely that they will be shut out for two games in a row – and that spells trouble for the hosts.

---

Lille v Clermont

Lille continue to flirt with the possibility of qualifying for Europe next season without being able to make a decisive run to thrust them into serious contention. With time running out this season, if they are going to make a charge, it will have to come soon.

LOSC have picked up a couple of good away results lately, winning 1-0 in Montpellier and against Lyon last weekend. Victory against OL, though, came in controversial circumstances as the hosts had what appeared a legitimate goal disallowed via VAR. 

These games, though, suggested that Lille are rediscovering the defensive values that underpinned their unlikely run to the title last season. Indeed, they have not conceded in any of their last three league matches. This is helping to disguise an attacking line that is struggling for confidence at present and has only scored two goals in its last four games overall.

Clermont, meanwhile, have run into some promising form in recent weeks. They have won three of their last five. In that time, they have beaten Rennes, Nice and Marseille – three sides challenging for the Champions League next season. Curiously, they have twice failed to beat the league’s bottom side in that run, including a 1-1 draw with Bordeaux last time out.

Only three of Clermont’s last 10 matches have produced more than two goals, while only one of Lille’s last seven matches in all competitions have yielded three or more goals. There has been little evidence before this game that this trend will change.

---

Marseille v Monaco

Sunday’s showpiece match between Marseille and Monaco is a fixture between two clubs that are at a low ebb.

OM approach this game after losing their last home fixture against Clermont then following that up with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Troyes. Amidst that, they progressed in the Conference League, but finishing in the top three is their goal this season.

Head coach Jorge Sampaoli has been under fire for the manner in which Marseille played against Troyes last time out, which was considered dour and defensive. However, after a midweek focused on preparation for this game, Marseille should be in a stronger state.

Monaco, meanwhile, suffered defeat to Nantes in the Coupe de France semi-finals in midweek. It was a loss that may just have ended their season in a competitive manner. Winless in their last four, they will need a remarkable run of form now to qualify for Europe next season.

A reaction is expected from the visiting side against Marseille – a team they hold a long-standing rivalry against. 

This is a good time to be traveling to face OM. The hosts have won only two of their last eight league games at the Velodrome, while they have conceded at least once in each of their last five – their longest run of the season. 

Conversely, OM always seem to find the net against Monaco. Indeed, in their last 32 league matches against the Principality club, they have been shut out only once. 

It would be surprising if this game were a thriller given the form of the teams, but they are both more than capable of finding the goal.

---

---

18+ please gamble responsibly.

---

Back the Four and Five Star Selections as an Accumulator on Betfair ⬇️

*Bet link only appears when accessing from mobile.

---

Haven’t got a Betfair account? You’re in luck…

Sign up to Betfair and get a full refund if your first bet loses. Grab an account through the offer below and place £20 on the 11/1 Ligue 1 Best Bets Accumulator. Here are the two possible outcomes: