Ligue 1 Preview + Predictions: Week Two
The new season is underway, and the first weekend may have been more sparklers than fireworks, but it did show that Ligue 1 will be as unpredictable as always.
Games are as hard to call as always, and it will take a few weeks until we see any patterns emerging. This weekend’s games see Lyon and Marseille face tough away tests and the newly-promoted Gazelec Ajaccio fed to the Parc des Princes lions.
By @Gibney_A
Monaco vs Lille: Friday 19:30
During this fixture last season, we were subjected to constant pictures of Radamel Falcao sitting in the Stade Louis II stands on the verge of completing his *cough* successful *cough* move to Manchester United. The hope is, 12 months on, the focus will be on the pitch as Monaco prepare for their Champions League play-off against Valencia.
Les Monegasques will be hoping to follow up the important derby win over Nice with another three points against Hervé Renard’s northerners. It promises to be a turbulent baptism for the former Zambia coach as he follows the opening day defeat with games against Monaco, Bordeaux and Lyon in the first five weeks of the season.
To make things that little bit tougher, Renato Civelli, the new summer signing, is Lille’s only fit centre-back. Les Dogues are without Marko Basa, Ibrahim Amadou, Franck Beria and Benjamin Pavard – Adama Soumaoro and Stopilla Sunzu are in the travelling squad, but there are doubts over their fitness.
At the Allianz Riviera, despite the slow start, once they got going the combinations of Ivan Cavaleiro, Anthony Martial, Bernardo Silva and Stephan El Shaarawy looked incredibly dangerous. If they are in the mood, Monaco’s free-flowing attack could have a field-day.
EA Guingamp v Olympique Lyonnais: Saturday 19:00
Guingamp and Jeremy Sorbon in particular would have been extremely gutted not to gain a point at the Stade de la Beaujoire. Losing 1-0 to Nantes through a 90th minute offside / own goal is not the ideal way to start the season and Jocelyn Gourvennec will welcome Lyon to Brittany hoping for better fortunes.
Lyon themselves will be unhappy with their sluggish start. Unable to breach Lorient’s stubborn defence, they will be hoping that playing away at the Stade du Roudourou will give them a little more space to operate as the home side are urged forward.
After their misfortune, the last person that EAG will want to face this weekend is last season’s top scorer Claudio Beauvue – especially beside the *if fit* 27-goal machine that is Alexandre Lacazette.
If that wasn’t enough, Hubert Fournier could start his new signing, France international, Mathieu Valbuena, after he completed his transfer on Tuesday evening.
Les Gones have won three of the previous five meetings on their travels, with Guingamp’s last win coming in 2003 when first-half goals from Moumouni Dagano and Argentine defender Fabricio Fuentes silenced Paul Le Guen’s side.
Sadly, for the home side, this game has 90th minute Beauvue winner written all over it.
Stade de Reims v Olympique de Marseille: Sunday 13:00
This is perhaps the most intriguing game of the weekend. The dust has barely settled after Marcelo Bielsa’s shock exit on Saturday night, but Marseille must go straight into battle under the guidance of Franck Passi, looking for something of the life-line.
Although OM has a good record at the Stade Auguste Delaune, they won’t relish the journey to the Champagne region after Olivier Guégan’s team put in a sparkling comeback performance against Bordeaux on Sunday.
1-0 down with 10 minutes to go, two assists from Grejohn Kyei and an 87th minute winner from Theoson Jordan Siebatcheu – his first senior goal on his second appearance – stunned the hosts and gave Reims the perfect start to the season.
Last season, this was the fixture where Bielsa’s OM broke out, putting five past a mixture of Kossi Agassa and Jonny Placide in the Reims net. It could go either way. Marseille could react and show that they are more than just pawns in the Argentine coach’s plans…or it could be a car crash.
Either way, it won’t be dull.
TIPS
On the podcast @Gibney_A picked Saint-Etienne, Lyon and Marseille all to win this weekend – if you go with Bet365 and bet £5 you would win £46.10 – he will definitely have 50p on that #TightScotsman
PREDICTIONS
Martha leads the way after two correct scores….Tom…
Rules are simple: One point for correct result, three for correct score.