© Imago
Second-bottom Saint-Etienne could be relegated from Ligue 1 this weekend when they travel to Stade Auguste-Delaune II to face a Reims side seeking consecutive home wins for the first time this season.
The 17th-placed visitors head into the penultimate round of the 2024-25 season four points behind Le Havre in the relegation playoff spot and five adrift of Nantes, highlighting their precarious situation against Reims, who are just two points clear of 16th.
We say: Reims 1-0 Saint-Etienne
Given Reims’ historical home advantage, boasting three consecutive wins against this weekend’s visitors, coupled with Saint-Etienne’s dismal away form this season – just one victory, three draws, and twelve losses – a narrow win for Diawara’s side appears likely.
> Ligue 1 preview: Reims vs St Etienne
© Imago
Nantes could secure their Ligue 1 status for another season with a positive result at Auxerre in Saturday’s gameweek 33 contest at Stade de l’Abbe Deschamps.
The Yellow Canaries travel to the safe 10th-placed hosts, seeking an encouraging result to steer clear of Le Havre in the relegation playoff spot.
We say: Auxerre 1-1 Nantes
While Auxerre hold the historical edge over Nantes at home, Saturday’s contest is difficult to predict due to the hosts not performing well on their turf and the Canaries struggling for clean sheets and results on their travels.
Thus, the spoils could be shared in a score draw in Burgundy, potentially causing Les Canaris to slip into the bottom three if Le Havre beat Marseille.
> Ligue 1 preview: Auxerre vs Nantes
© Iconsport
Angers and Strasbourg face off in the penultimate Ligue 1 fixture at Stade Raymond Kopa with much on the line.
The hosts’ top-flight status for next season is not assured, while Le Racing’s incredible 2024-25 journey may still end with Champions League qualification for the first time since the old European Cup in the 1979-80 season.
We say: Angers 0-1 Strasbourg
Despite their desire to possibly confirm Ligue 1 involvement by securing a positive result this weekend, Angers losing five of their previous six on home soil, failing to score in all defeats, will not fill supporters with optimism.
Conversely, Strasbourg have won four of their last five away fixtures (one draw), keeping clean sheets during that run, and they should secure a narrow triumph in Western France this weekend.
> Ligue 1 preview: Angers vs Strasbourg
© Imago
Le Havre and Marseille lock horns in a crucial encounter that will have huge implications at both ends of the Ligue 1 table on Saturday night.
The hosts enter this clash on the back of a dramatic and potentially pivotal victory last weekend, while Marseille remain in the driving seat for Champions League qualification.
We say: Le Havre 2-3 Marseille
Marseille have kept just five clean sheets this season, but have scored 67 goals in 32 games, so action at both ends is expected, but given their dominant record over Le Havre, an away victory is the most likely outcome.
Le Havre have a very tough finish to the season, and may need some favours from elsewhere to avoid the drop, but they will need to pull something miraculous out of the bag if they are to dodge the relegation playoff.
> Ligue 1 preview: Le Havre vs Marseille
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Aiming to avoid three straight defeats, Rennes welcome Champions League hopefuls Nice to Roazhon Park for a Ligue 1 battle on Saturday night.
Les Rouge et Noirs suffered a loss at the home of Toulouse last time out, whilst Le Gym’s excellent form continued with the beating of Reims on home soil.
We say: Rennes 0-1 Nice
Honing in on a Champions League spot, Nice should fancy their chances of extending their winning run to four games at Roazhon Park on Saturday.
Rennes’ campaign has petered out into mid-table mediocrity, meaning that the emphasis is on Le Gym to bring plenty of energy and escape with maximum points.
> Ligue 1 preview: Rennes vs Nice
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Already-relegated Montpellier HSC welcome champions Paris Saint-Germain to the Stade de la Mosson in a Ligue 1 dead rubber on Saturday night.
The hosts are at rock bottom after suffering a dismal relegation in their 50th-anniversary year, while PSG are flying high after reaching the Champions League final on Wednesday.
We say: Montpellier HSC 1-6 Paris Saint-Germain
You have to go back to 2010, and before the Qatari takeover, to find the last time PSG lost three successive matches in Ligue 1, and thankfully for them, Montpellier are unlikely going to put up much resistance.
Only twice in the 21st century has a team at the bottom of Ligue 1 beaten the club at the top of the standings, and the gap between top and bottom has never been quite as stark as this, and a repeat of the 6-0 thrashing inflicted on Montpellier in the reverse fixture could be in store.
> Ligue 1 preview: Montpellier vs PSG
© Imago
Both set for mid-table finishes, Toulouse and Lens play for pride when they clash at Stadium de Toulouse in Ligue 1 on Saturday night.
Les Violets secured a surprise 2-1 success over Rennes last time out, whilst Les Sang et Or managed to snatch three points from the base of Lyon.
We say: Toulouse 1-2 Lens
After standout victories at Lyon and Brest recently, Lens should be confident of repeating the trick on the road once again this weekend.
Toulouse have struggled on their own turf this calendar year and are likely to suffer a 15th defeat of the league campaign on Saturday night.
> Ligue 1 preview: Toulouse vs Lens
© Imago
Looking to end the season on a high over the next week, Brest welcome Champions League-chasing Lille to Stade Francis-Le Ble for a Ligue 1 clash on Saturday afternoon.
Les Pirates are marooned in the middle of the top flight with two games remaining, whereas Les Dogues are well in the hunt for a top-three standing.
We say: Brest 1-2 Lille
With nothing tangible left to play for during the last two games of the campaign, Brest could be swept away by a Lille storm on Saturday afternoon.
Les Dogues are desperately chasing down a Champions League spot and should possess enough motivation and quality to get the job done at Stade Francis-Le Ble.
> Ligue 1 preview: Brest vs Lille
© Imago
Monaco will look to keep their Champions League hopes alive when they welcome a Lyon side who now appear to be out of the race to the Stade Louis II in Ligue 1 on Saturday night.
With just two games to go, Lyon look like they have given themselves too much to do in the race for the top four, while Monaco remain in the driving seat heading into the weekend.
We say: Monaco 1-1 Lyon
Monaco are certainly the favourites after Lyon’s recent drop off in form, but the visitors still have plenty of quality to cause the hosts problems in this one.
A draw may do little to help both sides, but given that there is not much to separate the sides on paper, that looks a likely outcome here.
> Ligue 1 preview: Monaco vs Lyon
