We’re back! Another international break is over, now clubs can get back to picking up some momentum in the league race. Friday’s clash in Monaco is huge for both sides as they will be hoping to push up the table in the next weeks.

PSG look to exorcise the ghosts of last season and exact revenge on Bastia, and clubs like Montpellier, Lille, Troyes and Nantes will be desperate to put the past behind them.

AS Monaco v Olympique Lyonnais: Friday 19:30 – @rich_allen85

Friday night sees two of the league’s more underwhelming sides clash at the Stade Louis II as Monaco play host to Lyon. After much-lauded campaigns in 2014/15, many expected Monaco and Lyon to kick on this season. After nine games that has not yet proven to be the case.

Injuries have played their part in the stuttering starts both sides have made. Monaco will be without Nabil Dirar, Bernardo Silva, Fabio Coentrao, Adama Traore, Tiemoue Bakayoko and former Lyon player Fares Bahlouli who are all out injured. Both Ricardo Carvalho and Andrea Raggi will also miss the game through suspension. This leaves Monaco with a bit of a defensive crisis and Jeremy Toulalan may be forced to drop back and partner Wallace in the centre of defence.

Monaco will look to Thomas Lemar as their inspiration going into the game. The former Caen attacker has been in great form over the last few weeks. Three goals and an assist for Monaco, and a goal and assist while away with the Under 21s in the last week have boosted the confidence of the youngster. While other players have yet to hit top form, if there’s any justice in the world, Lemar will continue to shine.

How many times in recent years have Lyon seen their medical centre busier than the training pitch? Long term absentees Nabil Fekir, Gueida Fofana, Henri Bedimo and Clement Grenier were joined by Aldo Kalulu this week. After a couple of bright performances, Kalulu faces a couple of months out after being injured in training by Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa. Grenier returned to training this week, but the game on Friday has come too soon for him to play a part. Mathieu Valbuena has had a couple of weeks to forget with his lost court case against Marseille and “Djibril-gate”. It remains to be seen if he can keep his focus on the pitch.

Games between these two sides have recently been very tight and this looks like it will be no different. Both sides are hardly in sparkling form so a draw seems the most likely result. It was a win over Monaco that kick-started Lyon into gear last season. If there is a winner on Friday night then the boost they will gain could see a similar effect.

 

Stade de Reims v SM Caen: Saturday 19:00 – @gibney_a

Two of Ligue 1’s most exciting clubs go head-to-head on Saturday as Patrice Garande’s SM Caen travel to the Champagne region, hoping to take the fizz out of Stade de Reims’ season, as third play seventh.

Olivier Guégan’s side has only lost two of their last seven games, including the 1-0 loss to Lyon before the international break – a game in which they could easily have picked up a point on another day. The home side, however, have a few players missing, which could shift the balance towards their Normand opponents.

The impressive Jaba Kankava and Hamari Traoré are both suspended – Antoine Conte, Aissa Mandi and Kossi Agassa could all miss out through injury – on the opposite side, Caen only have doubts over the fitness of Jonathan Delaplace.

Garande’s team have won two in a row, but away from home it’s a more mixed record with two wins and two defeats. After the shock 1-0 win away at Marseille on the opening day, they have conceded five in three games on their travels.

This game should guarantee goals. Both sides look to play on the break with pace on the wings. Andy Delort is the danger-man for the away side, with three goals this season – but SMC are spreading the joy, even getting goals out of Ronny Rodelin.

It is tough to split the two sides; the first goal will be crucial, but being clinical in the final third should make the difference.

 

Stade Rennais v OGC Nice: Sunday 20:00 – @Philby1976

Sunday night sees a very interesting clash to finish up the round as fourth-place Rennes host eighth-place Nice, who have a game in hand.

After an opening day loss in Bastia, SRFC had four straight wins, including against Lyon, before stalling a little with four straight draws: on the upside against Lille and Monaco; more worryingly against red-zone teams Gazelec and Troyes. Also worrying is the hamstring injury that Paul-Georges Ntep picked up against ASM, which is likely to keep him out for several weeks at least. However, top-scorer Giovanni Sio (4) got through the international break unscathed, and they are the only team apart from PSG to have scored in every match.

Nice, meanwhile, have been a tad inconsistent, managing to lose 1-0 to Guingamp despite having 16 shots, win 6-1 against Bordeaux from 17, and beat Saint-Etienne 4-1 despite spending the latter stages down to nine men. They were shaping up to have another confusing but high-scoring match against Nantes before the heavens opened (2-2 at half time), and are yet to keep a clean sheet. They also have a key attacker out as Alassane Plea has a knee injury; the operation was a success but he will be out for several months. They also have a revitalised Hatem Ben Arfa, however, topping the scoring charts with six (with Cavani and Michy), and longstanding FFW favourite Valere Germain making his presence felt with four (and ruing the chalked-off double against Nantes).

Neither side has much in the way of consistency, therefore, but both are playing some nice football and from Nice, particularly, there is the chance of another high-scoring performance. Predicting the result is a fool’s errand, but bank on both sides to score in what should be a very enjoyable game.

TIPS

Tough predictions to call this week. For a three-team accumulator, we’ve gone for some home comforts. Look for Bordeaux to continue Montpellier’s woes on Sunday, Saint-Etienne to stop Gazelec getting their first Ligue 1 win, and with Troyes struggling, the atmosphere at the Stade de la Beaujoire should help Nantes to victory – a £5 bet would win you around £27.

PREDICTIONS