In this new weekly feature, GFFN Chief Features Writer Eric Devin and veteran GFFN contributor Jeremy Smith face off in our new Ligue 1 predictions competition. It’s three points for a correct score and one point for a correct result. Who will come out on top at the end of the season?
Eric’s Game of the Week: Marseille v Monaco – With both teams reeling and OGC Nice hosting PSG, this is a massive opportunity for these two clubs to right the ship. While not a rivalry on the level of the Cote d’Azur derby or Le Classique, there is no love lost between these two sides. For Monaco, a win in this match probably represents a last best hope to push for a top-three finish. Meanwhile, for OM, it’s a chance to get back on track after dropping eight points in their last five matches.
Jeremy’s Game of the Week: Saint-Étienne v Metz – There are four big games this weekend – two at the top and two at the bottom. Arguably the highest stakes come as two of the bottom three, Saint-Étienne and Metz, meet at the Geoffrey-Guichard. In the reverse fixture it took Wahbi Khazri’s wonder goal to give the stranded Verts a draw. Since then, Dupraz and a positive January transfer window have seen ASSE win three of their last five, scoring in all of them. Metz are in a mess with no win since mid-January and only two goals scored in 2022. Although their defence has tightened up and their away record is better than Les Verts’ at home, it’s hard to look past a home win for the more in-form team.
Eric’s full predictions:Lorient 0-1 LyonLens 1-1 BrestNice 1-3 PSGSaint-Étienne 1-1 MetzNantes 2-1 MontpellierRennes 3-0 AngersReims 1-2 StrasbourgBordeaux 2-0 TroyesLille 1-2 ClermontMarseille 1-1 Monaco
Jeremy’s full predictions:Lorient 1-1 LyonLens 2-0 BrestNice 2-2 PSGSaint-Étienne 2-0 MetzNantes 2-1 MontpellierRennes 3-1 AngersReims 2-2 StrasbourgBordeaux 2-1 TroyesLille 2-0 ClermontMarseille 1-2 Monaco