Nice vs PSG
Allianz Riviera, Nice
Sunday, 20-09-2020 @2pm
Nice lost only three of their 15 Ligue 1 assignments on home turf last season. PSG have lost two of their opening three league games this season. Both teams have scored in 14 of Nice’s last 16 home games.
PSG have yet to get going in their title defence and notable absentees make them fairly easy to oppose on their trip to Nice.
Thomas Tuchel’s men dropped points in only five of their 27 league games last season but one of those mishaps was against Nice and early evidence suggests this season is going to be tougher.
PSG suffered 1-0 reverses in their opening two games against Lens and Marseille, the second of which saw talisman Neymar, Leandro Paredes and Layvin Kurzawa sent off.
Those three remain suspended for this Nice trip and they are joined by defender Abdou Diallo, who was shown a red card in the hard-fought 1-0 win at home to Metz last time out.
PSG required a 93rd-minute header from Julian Draxler to account for lowly Metz last time out and extra importance is placed on the return of Kylian Mbappe, who has missed the start of the season after contracting coronavirus.
With those key absentees and given their recent performances, PSG are worth swerving against a Nice side who have two of their opening three games.
Patrick Vieira’s side, who outclassed Lens 2-1 in their sole home game this season, lost only three of their 15 Ligue 1 assignments on home turf last season and can offer stiff resistance.
Brest vs Lorient
Stade Francis-Le Ble, Brest
Sunday, 20-09-2020@4pm
*Details to follow
Metz vs Reims
Stade Saint-Symphorien, Metz
Sunday, 20-09-2020@4pm
Metz have lost their opening three Ligue 1 games 1-0, while Reims have just one point to show from their three assignments and have suffered two losses by the same scoreline.
Given both meetings last season produced just three goals – a 1-1 draw here in November was followed by a 1-0 win for Metz in Reims – and the lack of firepower they have shown in their opening three games, a low-scoring affair looks likely.
In fact, only three of the last 12 meetings between the pair has rewarded over 2.5 goals, so that looks the best approach for punters.
Reims finished sixth last season, seven points ahead of 15th-placed Metz, and it would be too soon to say they can’t repeat those efforts considering their opening three games have seen them face Monaco, Lille and Angers.
The additions of Valon Berisha from Lazio and Stuttgart’s Anastasios Donis offer plenty of optimism and their 2-2 draw at an unbeaten Monaco in late August is the best recent form on offer.
Montpellier vs Angers
Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier
Sunday, 20-09-2020 @4pm
Montpellier lost only two of their 14 home league games last season, winning on ten occasions. Angers scored only eight goals in 13 away games last season. There was only one goal scored across last season’s two meetings.
Montpellier and Angers have both claimed six points from their opening three Ligue 1 games but Michel Der Zakarian’s hosts have overcome considerably stronger opposition and should be good enough to utilise home advantage here.
Montpellier suffered a 2-1 defeat at Rennes in their opening game but they have been a different proposition following the international break and have recorded home successes against Marseille (3-1) and Lyon (2-1).If anything, this should be easier.
Montpellier won ten and drew two of their 14 home league games last season and Stade de la Mosson is very much a happy hunting ground for them.
Montpellier are expected to account for Angers, who won only three of their 13 away games last season. The visitors scored a measly eight goals on their travels last term and seemingly lack the firepower to cause an upset.
Angers have won two of their three games but both were narrow 1-0 victories over Dijon and Reims – two sides without a win – while they were beaten 2-0 at home to Bordeaux.
Strasbourg vs Dijon
Stade de la Meinue, Strasbourg
Sunday, 20-09-2020@4pm
*Details to follow
Nantes vs Saint Etienne
Stade de la Beaujoiu, Nantes
Sunday, 20-09-2020 @6pm
St Etienne have won all three of their Ligue 1 matches this season 2-0. St Etienne have won three of the last five meetings between the pair, suffering defeat only once. Nantes have won only one of their last five Ligue 1 games across the last two seasons, failing to score in three occasions.
St Etienne are setting the early pace in Ligue 1 with a perfect three from three record and they can maintain their spectacular start with victory at Nantes.
St Etienne have recorded 2-0 home wins over Lorient and Strasbourg and they then followed up those efforts by winning at Marseille, who had previously won to nil at champions PSG, by the same scoreline.
Claude Puel is beginning to get a real tune out of Les Verts and that doesn’t bode well for Nantes, who were 17th when last season was cut short but are evidently capable of better.
St Etienne have won three of the last five meetings between the pair, with two wins and draw their record from their last three trips here.
Nantes, who have collected four points from their opening three games, are rated favourites on their own turf but they won only six of their 14 games on their own patch last season, scoring only 11 times in the process.
Olimpique Marseille vs Lille
Orange Veldrome, Marseille
Sunday, 20-09-2020 @10pm
Marseille highlighted their inconsistencies when losing 2-0 at home to St Etienne last time out, having previously won at champions PSG, but a visit from a high-quality Lille outfit should ensure they are fully focused.
Marseille have won eight of the last 12 meetings between the pair, completing a league double over Lille last season, and they genuinely perform better against the division’s elite.
As well as twice being Lille, Marseille recorded wins over Lyon, Rennes and Monaco last season and it is against the lesser opposition when they tend to take their eye off the ball.
Lille were held to a 1-1 draw by Rennes in their opener but have responded with 1-0 wins over Reims and Metz. However, neither of their victims are in the same bracket as Marseille and last season they collected only two points from their five away meetings with top-six outfits.
Ligue One result
Friday, 18-09-2020
-Olympique Lyon 0-0 Nimes
Saturday, 19-09-202
-Lens 2-1 Bordeaux
-Rennes 2-1 Monaco
