Ligue 1 Picks Final Tally

Final Round — 2/10

Season — 161/380 (42.37 %)

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 38

Brest vs Bordeaux — Home

Clermont vs Lyon — Home

Lens vs Monaco — Away

Marseille vs Strasbourg — Draw

Lorient vs Troyes — Home

PSG vs Metz — Home

Lille vs Rennes — Away

Angers vs Montpellier — Home

Nantes vs St Etienne — Away

Reims vs Nice — Draw

Last round — 4/10

Season — 159/370

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 37

St Etienne vs Reims — Home

Montpellier vs PSG — Home

Metz vs Angers — Home

Rennes vs Marseille — Away

Strasbourg vs Clermont — Home

Lyon vs Nantes — Home

Bordeaux vs Lorient — Home

Monaco vs Brest — Home

Nice vs Lille — Home

Troyes vs Lens — Home

Last round — 0/2

Season — 155/360

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 36B

Nice vs St Etienne — Draw

Nantes vs Rennes — Away

Last round — 3/8

Season — 155/358

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 36A

Lille vs Monaco — Away

Brest vs Strasbourg — Home

Metz vs Lyon — Away

Angers vs Bordeaux — Home

Reims vs Lens — Draw

Clermont vs Montpellier — Home

Lorient vs Marseille — Draw

PSG vs Troyes — Home

Last round — 5/10

Season — 152/350

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 35

Strasbourg vs PSG — Home

Lens vs Nantes — Home

Rennes vs St Etienne — Home

Troyes vs Lille — Draw

Monaco vs Angers — Home

Brest vs Clermont — Home

Lorient vs Reims — Away

Montpellier vs Metz — Home

Bordeaux vs Nice — Away

Marseille vs Lyon — Home

Last round — 7/10

Season — 147/340

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 34

Lyon vs Montpellier — Home

St Etienne vs Monaco — Away

PSG vs Lens — Draw

Rennes vs Lorient — Home

Nantes vs Bordeaux — Draw

Nice vs Troyes — Home

Metz vs Brest — Away

Clermont vs Angers — Away

Lille vs Strasbourg — Draw

Reims vs Marseille — Away

Last round — 3/10

Season — 140/330

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 33

Reims vs Lille — Draw

Bordeaux vs St Etienne — Away

Troyes vs Clermont — Home

Monaco vs Nice — Home

Lorient vs Metz — Home

Angers vs PSG — Draw

Lens vs Montpellier — Away

Strasbourg vs Rennes — Draw

Marseille vs Nantes — Home

Brest vs Lyon — Away

Last round — 4/10

Season — 137/320

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 32

Rennes vs Monaco — Away

St Etienne vs Brest — Draw

Lille vs Lens — Away

Nice vs Lorient — Home

Nantes vs Angers — Home

Troyes vs Strasbourg — Draw

Montpellier vs Reims — Away

Metz vs Clermont — Home

Lyon vs Bordeaux — Draw

PSG vs Marseille — Away

Last round — 5/10

Season — 133/310

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 31

Lorient vs St Etienne — Away

Reims vs Rennes — Away

Clermont vs PSG — Draw

Bordeaux vs Metz — Home

Angers vs Lille — Draw

Monaco vs Troyes — Home

Brest vs Nantes — Home

Lens vs Nice — Away

Strasbourg vs Lyon — Home

Marseille vs Montpellier — Home

Last round — 3/10

Season — 128/300

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 30

Nice vs Rennes – Home

Lille vs Bordeaux – Home

Strasbourg vs Lens – Draw

Metz vs Monaco – Away

St Etienne vs Marseille — Draw

Troyes vs Reims – Draw

Montpellier vs Brest – Draw

Clermont vs Nantes – Home

Lyon vs Angers – Home

PSG vs Lorient – Home

Last round - 4/10

Season – 125/290

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 29

St Etienne vs Troyes — Home

Lens vs Clermont — Home

Nantes vs Lille — Home

Monaco vs PSG — Home

Lorient vs Strasbourg — Away

Rennes vs Metz — Home

Angers vs Brest — Draw

Bordeaux vs Montpellier — Home

Reims vs Lyon — Draw

Marseille vs Nice — Away

Last round — 3/10

Season — 121/280

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 28

Lille vs St Etienne – Away

Montpellier vs Nice – Away

Troyes vs Nantes – Draw

PSG vs Bordeaux – Home

Strasbourg vs Monaco – Away

Angers vs Reims – Home

Metz vs Lens – Draw

Clermont vs Lorient – Home

Lyon vs Rennes – Home

Brest vs Marseille – Away

Last round – 3/10

Season – 118/270

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 27

Lorient vs Lyon — Draw

Lens vs Brest — Home

Nice vs PSG — Home

St Etienne vs Metz — Home

Nantes vs Montpellier — Away

Reims vs Strasbourg — Away

Rennes vs Angers — Home

Bordeaux vs Troyes — Home

Lille vs Clermont — Away

Marseille vs Monaco — Home

Last round — 4/10

Season — 115/260

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 26

Montpellier vs Rennes – Away

Strasbourg vs Nice – Home

PSG vs St Etienne – Home

Monaco vs Reims – Home

Metz vs Nantes – Draw

Clermont vs Bordeaux – Draw

Brest vs Lorient – Home

Angers vs Lens – Draw

Troyes vs Marseille – Away

Lyon vs Lille – Home

Last round – 4/10

Season – 111/250

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 25

Lille vs Metz — Home

Lens vs Lyon — Away

Nantes vs PSG — Draw

Nice vs Angers — Home

Rennes vs Troyes — Home

St Etienne vs Strasbourg — Draw

Lorient vs Montpellier — Draw

Reims vs Brest — Away

Bordeaux vs Monaco — Draw

Marseille vs Clermont — Home

Last round — 4/10

Season — 107/240

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 24

PSG vs Rennes — Draw

Montpellier vs Lille — Home

Lyon vs Nice — Draw

Monaco vs Lorient — Home

Angers vs Strasbourg — Away

Clermont vs St Etienne — Draw

Brest vs Troyes — Draw

Nantes vs Reims — Home

Lens vs Bordeaux — Home

Metz vs Marseille — Away

Last round — 5/10

Season — 103/230

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 23

Marseille vs Angers — Home

St Etienne vs Montpellier — Away

Monaco vs Lyon — Home

Lorient vs Lens — Away

Reims vs Bordeaux — Draw

Nice vs Clermont — Home

Troyes vs Metz — Draw

Strasbourg vs Nantes — Home

Rennes vs Brest — Home

Lille vs PSG — Draw

Last round — 0/1

Season — 98/220

Ligue 1 Rescheduled Pick

Lyon vs Marseille — Away

Last round — 5/11

Season — 98/219

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 22

Lyon vs St Etienne — Home

Brest vs Lille — Away

Lens vs Marseille — Draw

Metz vs Nice — Away

Clermont vs Rennes — Away

Nantes vs Lorient — Home

Angers vs Troyes — Home

Bordeaux vs Strasbourg — Away

Montpellier vs Monaco — Away

PSG vs Reims — Home

Rescheduled midweek game

Angers vs St Etienne — Home

Last round — 2/3

Season — 93/208

Ligue 1 Picks Rescheduled Games

Clermont vs Strasbourg — Away

Lille vs Lorient — Home

Montpellier vs Troyes — Home

Last round — 7/10

Season — 91/205

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 21

Nice vs Nantes — Home

St Etienne vs Lens — Away

PSG vs Brest — Home

Rennes vs Bordeaux — Home

Lorient vs Angers — Draw

Reims vs Metz — Draw

Monaco vs Clermont — Home

Strasbourg vs Montpellier — Away

Troyes vs Lyon — Away

Marseille vs Lille — Home

Last round — 3/7

Season — 84/195

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 20

Bordeaux vs Marseille — Home

Lens vs Rennes — Draw

Brest vs Nice — Away

Metz vs Strasbourg — Away

Clermont vs Reims — Home

Nantes vs Monaco — Draw

Lyon vs PSG — Home

Last round — 4/9

Season — 81/188

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 19

Montpellier vs Angers — Home

Clermont vs Strasbourg — Draw

Marseille vs Reims — Home

Lorient vs PSG — Away

Troyes vs Brest — Away

Bordeaux vs Lille — Draw

Lyon vs Metz — Home

Monaco vs Rennes — Home

St Etienne vs Nantes — Away

Nice vs Lens — Home

Last round — 3/10

Season — 77/179

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 18

Nantes vs Lens — Draw

Brest vs Montpellier — Home

Reims vs St Etienne — Home

Lille vs Lyon — Home

Troyes vs Bordeaux — Away

Metz vs Lorient — Home

Angers vs Clermont — Home

Rennes vs Nice — Home

Strasbourg vs Marseille — Home

PSG vs Monaco — Away

Last week — 7/10

Season — 74/169

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 17

Marseille vs Brest — Home

Lille vs Troyes — Home

Lens vs PSG — Draw

St Etienne vs Rennes — Draw

Montpellier vs Clermont — Home

Reims vs Angers — Away

Lorient vs Nantes — Away

Monaco vs Metz — Home

Nice vs Strasbourg — Home

Bordeaux vs Lyon — Draw

Last round — 3/10

Season — 67/159

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 16

Angers vs Monaco — Home

Metz vs Montpellier — Home

Strasbourg vs Bordeaux — Home

Troyes vs Lorient — Draw

Brest vs St Etienne — Home

Clermont vs Lens — Away

PSG vs Nice — Draw

Nantes vs Marseille — Draw

Rennes vs Lille — Home

Lyon vs Reims — Home

Last round — 5/10

Season — 64/149

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 15

Lens vs Angers — Home

Lille vs Nantes — Draw

Nice vs Metz — Home

St Etienne vs PSG — Draw

Lorient vs Rennes — Away

Reims vs Clermont — Home

Bordeaux vs Brest — Draw

Monaco vs Strasbourg — Home

Montpellier vs Lyon — Away

Marseille vs Troyes — Home

Last week — 5/9

Season — 59/139

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 14

Monaco vs Lille — Home

PSG vs Nantes — Home

Rennes vs Montpellier — Home

Brest vs Lens — Draw

Strasbourg vs Reims — Home

Angers vs Lorient — Draw

Metz vs Bordeaux — Draw

Troyes vs St-Etienne — Away

Clermont vs Nice — Away

Lyon vs Marseille — Away

Last round — 3/10

Season — 54/130

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 13

Lens vs Troyes — Home

Lille vs Angers — Home

Bordeaux vs PSG — Draw

Marseille vs Metz — Home

Lorient vs Brest — Draw

Reims vs Monaco — Away

St Etienne vs Clermont — Home

Nantes vs Strasbourg — Away

Nice vs Montpellier — Home

Rennes vs Lyon — Home

Last week — 6/10

Season — 51/120

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 12

PSG vs Lille — Draw

Metz vs St Etienne — Draw

Lyon vs Lens — Home

Angers vs Nice — Draw

Montpellier vs Nantes — Home

Troyes vs Rennes — Away

Strasbourg vs Lorient — Home

Bordeaux vs Reims — Home

Brest vs Monaco — Away

Clermont vs Marseille — Away

Last week — 4/11

Season — 45/110

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 11

St Etienne vs. Angers — Away

Nantes vs Clermont — Home

Lille vs Brest — Home

Nice vs Lyon — Draw

Lens vs Metz — Home

Reims vs Troyes — Draw

Rennes vs Strasbourg — Home

Lorient vs Bordeaux — Away

Monaco vs Montpellier — Home

Marseille vs PSG — Home

Rearranged Matchday 3 Pick

Nice vs Marseille — Home

Last week — 4/10

Season — 41/99

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 10

PSG vs Angers — Home

Clermont vs Lille — Away

Lyon vs Monaco — Away

Troyes vs Nice — Away

Bordeaux vs Nantes — Draw

Strasbourg vs St Etienne — Draw

Brest vs Reims — Home

Metz vs Rennes — Away

Montpellier vs Lens — Draw

Marseille vs Lorient — Home

Last Round — 4/10

Season — 37/89

Troyes till the next break

Nice (H) Reims (A) Rennes (H) Lens (A)

It is a pretty foreboding run for the side in 17th, but Troyes have shown more grit than the other struggling sides which leads me to believe they can get a draw or two against the odds and keep fighting to survive in the league.

Strasbourg till the next break

St Etienne (H) Rennes (A) Lorient (H) Nantes (A)

Julien Stéphan has brought his enterprising style of football to Strasbourg with mixed results so far, however this run of fixtures - with the exception of the visit to Rennes - provides the new manager an opportunity to further polish his ideas.

St Etienne till the next break

Strasbourg (A) Angers (H) Metz (A) Clermont (H)

Claude Puel’s side at least should the requisite hunger in a battling draw with arch rivals Lyon before the break, but St Etienne will need to showcase quality as well if they are to get out of a pickle in a run of fixtures that are not the hardest for Ligue 1’s bottom side.

Rennes till the next break

Metz (A) Strasbourg (H) Troyes (A) Lyon (H)

Signs that Bruno Genesio’s ideas are beginning to take shape and with a tasty understanding beginning to develop between Kamaldeen Sulemana, Jeremy Doku and Gaëtan Laborde, Rennes should aim for nine points out of nine before the visit of Lyon.

Reims till the next break

Brest (A) Troyes (H) Bordeaux (A) Monaco (H)

The home game against Troyes should be won and If they can sneak out an away point or two before their welcome Monaco, Reims could put themselves well clear of a relegation battle this season.

PSG till the next break

Angers (H) Marseille (A) Lille (H) Bordeaux (A)

Quite a tricky run of fixtures with Le Classique being the obvious highlight and home fans will expect a strong statement of intent when Lille visit, but regardless of the results PSG’s cushion at the top should remain around the same before the next international break.

Nice till the next break

Troyes (A) Lyon (H) Marseille (H) Angers (A) Montpellier (H)

Christophe Galtier has brought his title-winning acumen to the South of France which has immediately made Nice one of the best sides in France, with their two home games against Lyon and Marseille providing them a great opportunity to lay down a marker as favourites for second in the league.

Nantes till the next break

Bordeaux (A) Clermont (H) Montpellier (A) Strasbourg (H)

Antoine Kombouaré has got Nantes playing in an understated yet efficient way and this run of games should further solidify the Canaries comfortably in mid table. 

Montpellier till the next break

Lens (H) Monaco (A) Nantes (H) Nice (A)

Like any Olivier Dall’Oglio side, Montpellier play good football but don’t always get the results, a theme that may continue considering the calibre of these four opponents.

Monaco till the next break

Lyon (A) Montpellier (H) Brest (A) Reims (A)

After an exhausting start to the campaign Nico Kovac’s Monaco look back to their best and the trip to Lyon gives them a chance to make a statement after which they really should get nine points out of nine.

Metz till the next break

Rennes (H) Lens (A) St Etienne (H) Marseille (A)

The home game against St Etienne presents an opportunity, but outside of that this feels like a run of games that is likely to leave Metz entrenched in the relegation dogfight.

Marseille till the next break

Lorient (H) PSG (H) Nice (A) Clermont (A) Metz (H)

Sampaoli’s exciting start has given away to inconsistency in recent games which means their next three difficult games are likely to reveal the extent of Marseille’s realistic ambitions for this season.

Lyon till the next break

Monaco (H) Nice (A) Lens (H) Rennes (A)

As is the case with all his sides, Peter Bosz’s Lyon have mixed exuberant attacking play with unforgivable defensive mistakes, which makes Lyon’s fixtures very hard to predict especially when all four of their next opponents have decent offensive weapons.

Lorient till the next break

Marseille (A) Bordeaux (H) Strasbourg (A) Brest (H)

Lorient have sneaked into the top half relatively unnoticed and other than their trip to the Velodrome, these games provide Christophe Pélissier’s charges an opportunity to solidify themselves in mid table.

Lille till the next break

Clermont (A) Brest (H) PSG (A) Angers (H)

With Jonathan David firing and their strong midfield looking close to their best again, Lille’s recent resurgence can continue in this run even if they don’t get anything in Paris.

Lens till the next break

Montpellier (A) Metz (H) Lyon (A) Troyes (H)

Franck Haise’s men have play some scintillating football on their ascent to second in the table, and after beating Marseille and Lille already this season, they will have little fear taking on these opponents including the trip to a defensively vulnerable Lyon.

Clermont till the next break

Lille (H) Nantes (A) Marseille (H) St Etienne (A)

It’s around this time of the season when a newly promoted team’s honeymoon comes to an end and after going winless in their last five, Clermont will have to pull off something special from a difficult run of games to avoid going into the bottom three.

Brest till the next break

Reims (H) Lille (A) Monaco (H) Lorient (A)

The home game against Reims has to be their first league win of the season, because the games that follow could very easily mean Michel Der Zakarian’s tenure hanging by a thread.

Bordeaux till the next break

Nantes (H) Lorient (A) Reims (H) PSG (H)

The kind of run that should enable Vladimir Petkovic to further stamp authority on his side because the last thing Bordeaux want is to be in the relegation zone when they welcome PSG.

Angers till the next break

PSG (A) St Etienme (A) Nice (H) Lille (A)

Gérald Baticle’s start to life in the Angers dugout has already far exceeded expectations and considering the levels of over performance it wouldn’t surprise me if they caused an upset or two against the big guns to keep flying high.

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 9

Lens vs Reims — Home

Montpellier vs Strasbourg — Home

Nice vs Brest — Home

Rennes vs PSG — Draw

Nantes vs Troyes — Home

Monaco vs Bordeaux — Home

Angers vs Metz — Draw

Lorient vs Clermont — Home

Lille vs Marseille — Away

St Etienne vs Lyon — Away

Last week — 4/10

Season — 33/79

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 8

St Etienne vs Nice — Away

Strasbourg vs Lille — Home

Lyon vs Lorient — Home

PSG vs Montpellier — Home

Bordeaux vs Rennes — Draw

Reims vs Nantes — Away

Brest vs Metz — Draw

Troyes vs Angers — Away

Clermont vs Monaco — Away

Marseille vs Lens — Home

Last Round — 5/10

Season — 29/69

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 7

Rennes vs Clermont — Home

Nantes vs Brest — Home

Montpellier vs Bordeaux — Away

Monaco vs St Etienne — Home

Lille vs Reims — Draw

Metz vs PSG — Away

Lorient vs Nice — Away

Lyon vs Troyes — Home

Lens vs Strasbourg — Draw

Angers vs Marseille — Away

Last round — 4/10

Season — 24/59

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 6

Strasbourg vs Metz — Home

Lens vs Lille — Home

St Etienne vs Bordeaux — Draw

Nice vs Monaco — Home

Angers vs Nantes — Home

Troyes vs Montpellier — Away

Clermont vs Brest — Draw

Reims vs Lorient — Away

Marseille vs Rennes — Home

PSG vs Lyon — Away

Last week — 5/10

Season — 20/49

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 5

Lorient vs Lille — Away

PSG vs Clermont — Home

Monaco vs Marseille — Home

Montpellier vs St Etienne — Draw

Brest vs Angers — Draw

Bordeaux vs Lens — Away

Rennes vs Reims — Home

Metz vs Troyes — Home

Nantes vs Nice — Away

Lyon vs Strasbourg — Home

Last round — 5/10

Season — 15/39

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 4

Nantes vs Lyon — Away

Nice vs Bordeaux — Home

Marseille vs St Etienne — Home

Troyes vs Monaco — Away

Angers vs Rennes — Draw

Strasbourg vs Brest — Draw

Lens vs Lorient — Home

Clermont vs Metz — Home

Lille vs Montpellier — Draw

Reims vs PSG — Away

Last week — 5/9

Season — 10/29

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 3

Brest vs PSG — Away

Monaco vs Lens — Draw

St Etienne vs Lille — Home

Lyon vs Clermont — Home

Montpellier vs Lorient — Home

Bordeaux vs Angers — Draw

Strasbourg vs Troyes — Home

Metz vs Reims — Draw

Rennes vs Nantes — Home

Nice vs Marseille — Draw

Last week — 3/10

Season — 5/20

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 2

Lorient vs Monaco — Draw

Lille vs Nice — Draw

PSG vs Strasbourg — Home

Angers vs Lyon — Away

Reims vs Montpellier — Draw

Nantes vs Metz — Draw

Clermont vs Troyes — Home

Brest vs Rennes — Away

Lens vs St Etienne — Home

Marseille vs Bordeaux — Home

Last week — 2/10

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 1

Monaco vs Nantes — Home 

Lyon vs Brest — Home

Troyes vs PSG — Draw

Rennes vs Lens — Draw

St Etienne vs Lorient — Home

Nice vs Reims — Home

Strasbourg vs Angers — Home

Bordeaux vs Clemont Foot — Draw

Metz vs Lille — Away

Montpellier vs Marseille — Away

Four becomes three in France's gripping title race

Few things in football beat the feeling of title contenders facing off in the last stages of a league campaign. The pressure and tension alone give a great sense of occasion, and every now and then, the quality and excitement matches our expectations. That’s exactly what we got in France on Sunday, as Lyon and Lille played out a barnburner of a tie.

Lille came back from two goals behind to earn a memorable win and secure top spot in Ligue 1 with four games to go. The result was symptomatic of both club’s seasons. Lille have been the more consistent side, playing with greater camaraderie and a system that enhances the collective. Lyon on the other hand have relied on the flair of individuals and been led by the talismanic performances of Memphis Depay, all the while retaining the propensity to shoot themselves in the foot. 

While we’ve all enjoyed four teams being involved in the title race, the result means we say goodbye to Lyon, leaving Lille, PSG and Monaco to battle it out to be the best in France. Two points separate the top three, and for my money, Lille’s victory today was important because if they are to have any hope of pipping PSG to the title, being ahead is absolutely crucial. Lille’s Achilles heel has been their recent home form, and Christophe Galtier will hope the buoyancy of the win at Lyon gives his players the belief to get the job done.

This Football Weekend Jan 30-31

As usual, some key games all across Europe this weekend.

Saturday

Union vs Gladbach — 8th vs 5th, only 3 points separate the sides

West Brom vs Fulham — Relegation battle, both need the win

Arsenal vs United — Classic rivalry between sides in good form

Leipzig vs Leverkusen — 2nd vs 3rd with other sides catching up

Villarreal vs La Real — 5th vs 6th in battle for Europe

Marseille vs Rennes — 6th vs 5th in battle for Europe

Sunday

Atalanta vs Lazio — Increasingly heated rivalry

West Ham vs Liverpool — 5th vs 4th in enticing contest

Barca vs Athletic — Rematch of crazy Supercopa final two weeks ago

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 22

Lyon vs Bordeaux — Draw

Montpellier vs Lens — Draw

Marseille vs Rennes — Away win

Nice vs St Etienne — Draw

Lorient vs PSG — Away win

Brest vs Metz — Draw

Angers vs Nimes — Home win

Strasbourg vs Reims — Draw

Lille vs Dijon — Home win

Nantes vs Monaco — Away win

Matchday 21 Picks — 4/9

Season so far — 60/135

This Football Weekend Jan 22-24

Another weekend of football means another round of interesting and important fixtures. They are some tricky games on the mainland and a pretty hyped up cup clash in England to look ahead to this time.

Friday

Gladbach vs Dortmund — Battle of the Borussias in a cramped fight for top 4

Saturday

Leverkusen vs Wolfsburg — 3rd vs 5th in another top 4 battle

Sevilla vs Cadiz — Andalusian sides both in the top half

Milan vs Atalanta — 1st vs 6th as Serie A’s two over-performers meet

La Real vs Betis — Always fun, both aiming for Europe

Monaco vs Marseille — South coast rivalry with European implications

Sunday

Verona vs Napoli — Tricky test at 9th place hosts for the visitors title aims

Rennes vs Lille — 5th vs 2nd between two evenly matched teams

Lazio vs Sassuolo — Tough test for hosts resurgence against bold visitors

United vs Liverpool — Not as hyped as last week’s clash but still big

Atletico vs Valencia — Spain’s 3rd and 4th biggest clubs

St Etienne vs Lyon — France’s biggest derby with both needing a win

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 21

PSG vs Montpellier — Home win

Lens vs Nice — Home win

Monaco vs Marseille — Home win

Bordeaux vs Angers — Draw

Reims vs Brest — Draw

Dijon vs Strasbourg — Home win

Metz vs Nantes — Home win

Rennes vs Lille — Draw

St Etienne vs Lyon — Away win

Matchday 20 Picks — 6/9

Season so far — 56/126

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 20

Montpellier vs Monaco — Away win

Marseille vs Nimes — Home win

Angers vs PSG — Away win

Brest vs Rennes — Away win

Lorient vs Dijon — Draw

Nice vs Bordeaux — Draw

Nantes vs Lens — Draw

Strasbourg vs St Etienne — Home win

Lille vs Reims — Home win

Lyon vs Metz — Home win

Matchday 19 Picks — 6/10

Season so far — 50/117

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 19

Montpellier vs Nantes — Home win

Metz vs Nice — Draw

Reims vs St Etienne — Away win

PSG vs Brest — Home win

Monaco vs Angers — Home win

Dijon vs Marseille — Away win

Lens vs Strasbourg — Draw

Nimes vs Lille — Away win

Rennes vs Lyon — Draw

Bordeaux vs Lorient — Home win

Matchday 18 Picks — 4/10

Season so far — 44/107

This Football Weekend Jan 8-10

Action in England is diverted this weekend due to the tradition of the FA Cup, but there are plenty of prominent league fixtures on the continent to look forward to.

Friday

Gladbach vs Bayern — Traditional rivalry, one of the few places Hansi Flick has lost

Saturday

Sevilla vs La Real — Visitors really need a win to make this a genuine race for 4th

Schalke vs Hoffenheim — Will the hosts equal the record of 31 games without a win?

Union vs Wolfsburg — Win this and one of these over-performers are genuine dark horses for 4th

Atletico vs Athletic — Classic rivalry and attritional fare expected between Simeone and Marcelino

Granada vs Barca — Small signs that Barca are improving will be put to test at 7th placed hosts

Leipzig vs Dortmund — 2nd vs 4th with high stakes for Nagelsmann and Terzic

Milan vs Torino — How do the league leaders react after their first defeat?

Rennes vs Lyon — 4th hosts 1st in a big test for Lyon’s title credentials

Sunday

Roma vs Inter — 3rd vs 2nd and a chance for the hosts to enter the title conversation

Juve vs Sassuolo — 4th vs 5th and both teams playing some sublime football

This Football Midweek Jan 6

There is a lot of interesting football awaiting us on Wednesday, with some intriguing league action complimented by a tantalizing cup semi.

Milan vs Juve — Undefeated leaders welcome champions with plenty of questions to answer

St Etienne vs PSG — Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG debut against another former Southampton manager in Claude Puel

Athletic vs Barca — Marcelino’s debut at Athletic welcoming Barca who he has always done well against

United vs City — EFL cup semi with both in good form and Mourinho awaiting the winner

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 18

Strasbourg vs Nimes — Home win

Brest vs Nice — Draw

Nantes vs Rennes — Away win

Metz vs Bordeaux — Draw

Lorient vs Monaco — Away win

Marseille vs Montpellier — Draw

St Etienne vs PSG — Away win

Lille vs Angers — Home win

Reims vs Dijon — Home win

Lyon vs Lens — Home win

Matchday 17 Picks — 4/10

Season so far — 40/97

This Football Midweek Dec 22-23

The Bundesliga played its last action on the weekend before a small break and the Southern European leagues follow suit this midweek. These are the games I am interested in.

Tuesday 

Valencia vs Sevilla — Big rivalry, always fighting to be the best of the rest.

La Real vs Atletico — Tough test for league leaders at team in third.

Wednesday

Verona vs Inter — Tricky game for Conte’s men at a team who raise their game for the best.

Real vs Granada — In-form champions welcome in-form overachievers.

Milan vs Lazio — Always a big clash featuring some mercurial players in form.

Montpellier vs Lille — Sixth welcomes first as two of France’s most stylish teams meet.

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 17

Rennes vs Metz — Home win

Lens vs Brest — Draw

Bordeaux vs Reims — Home win

Nice vs Lorient — Home win

Nimes vs Dijon — Draw

Lyon vs Nantes — Home win

Monaco vs St Etienne — Draw

Montpellier vs Lille — Draw

PSG vs Strasbourg — Home win

Angers vs Marseille — Away win

Last round’s score — 3/10

Season so far — 36/87

This Football Weekend Dec 18-21

Here comes another interested weekend of football in the top 5 leagues.

Friday

Union vs Dortmund — Doesn’t get easier for Terzic’s Dortmund at Kopenick.

Saturday

Southampton vs City — Ralph vs Pep with the Austrian higher than the Catalonian.

Barca vs Valencia — Struggling big clubs relying on youth for optimism.

Everton vs Arsenal — Carlo and Mikel meet one year from their appointments.

Leverkusen vs Bayern — Top two clash, with attacks in supreme form.

Sunday

Sassuolo vs Milan — Tough test for the leaders at 6th place hosts.

Spurs vs Leicester — 2nd vs 4th, Jose vs Rodgers, several players in good form.

United vs Leeds — We’ve waited a long time for this historic rivalry.

Atalanta vs Roma — Key game in battle for top 4 spots.

West Brom vs Villa — Big Sam’s return in a derby.

Lazio vs Napoli — Another big game in battle for top 4 spots.

Lille vs PSG — Top two clash with Lille looking the real deal.

Monday

Chelsea vs West Ham — London derby with sides only separated by 1 point.

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 16

Metz vs Lens — Away win

Marseille vs Reims — Home win

Nice vs Lyon — Draw

Brest vs Montpellier — Home win

Dijon vs Monaco — Away win

Strasbourg vs Bordeaux — Home win

Nantes vs Angers — Home win

St Etienne vs Nimes — Home win

Lorient vs Rennes — Away win

Lille vs PSG — Draw

Last round’s score — 2/10

Season so far — 33/77

This Football Midweek Dec 15-16

End of continental competition so time for some midweek rest, right? Wrong says the football calendar! On and on the relentless machine goes. Here’s what I am looking forward to this midweek.

Tuesday

Wolves vs Chelsea — Nuno needs some answers and Lampard does too. 

Stuttgart vs Union — Battle of the thoroughly surprising and entertaining overachievers.

Werder vs Dortmund — First BVB game post-Favre, at a venue they are hit and miss at best.

Real vs Athletic — Will Zidane’s men revert to type after winning three big games?

Wednesday

Juve vs Atalanta — Has been a great game for three seasons now. But what about Papu?

Arsenal vs Southampton — One squad is clearly better, One manager is clearly better. Who will prevail?

Leicester vs Everton — Rodgers vs Ancelotti, with both sides getting their groove back.

Bayern vs Wolfsburg — Tired champions welcome undefeated resolute visitors.

Hoffenheim vs Leipzig — Nagelsmann derby between Germany’s two most hated clubs.

Fulham vs Brighton — Relegation battle with the host playing better football than the visitors.

Liverpool vs Spurs — Top 2, Klopp vs Jose, Kane, Son, Salah and uhm… Curtis Jones.

Barca vs La Real — Sociedad somehow still top La Liga, can they prove it at a weak Barca?

Rennes vs Marseille — Champions League busts with a chance to state domestic intent.

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 15

Montpellier 3 Metz 1

Reims 1 Nantes 1

Dijon 0 Lille 2

Nimes 1 Nice 1

Angers 2 Strasbourg 1

PSG 3 Lorient 1

Bordeaux 1 St Etienne 0

Lyon 3 Brest 1

Monaco 3 Lens 2

Rennes 1 Marseille 2

Last round’s score — 4/10

Season so far — 31/67

This Football Weekend Dec 12-13

All international action is over after the group stages of the Champions League and Europa League came to a close this week. The next two and a half months promise non-stop domestic football leaving lazy pundits confused about to who to blame for the schedule when they can’t put it all on something beyond their borders. Right then, let’s get on with. A few real doozies this weekend.

Saturday

Marseille vs Monaco — South coast rivals, both in contention, both playing well.

United vs City — Manchester derby with both needing to answer some questions in this one.

Everton vs Chelsea — Ancelotti against his former team with serious questions being asked.

Real vs Atletico — Madrid derby with both in good spirits and game faces firmly on.

Lens vs Montpellier — France’s surprise top half entertainers take on each other.

Sunday

Betis vs Villarreal — Pellegrini against his former team and Pellegrini vs Emery.

Leverkusen vs Hoffenheim — Germany’s Europa League high-scorers face off.

PSG vs Lyon — Always a big game and it this moment at least, a title bout.

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 14

St Etienne 1 Angers 2

Marseille 2 Monaco 1

Lens 2 Montpellier 2

Nice 1 Rennes 1

Strasbourg 2 Metz 1

Lorient 1 Nimes 2

Nantes 1 Dijon 1

Brest 2 Reims 0

Lille 2 Bordeaux 0

PSG 2 Lyon 1

Last week’s score — 4/10

Season so far — 27/57

This Football Weekend Dec 4-6

Big games and derbies all over the continent to look forward to.

Friday

Hertha vs Union — Berlin derby with both teams playing adventurous football.

Saturday

Sevilla vs Real — Title implications, pressure on both after European humiliation and Lopetegui’s history.

Juve vs Torino — Turin derby where both teams really need to win.

West Ham vs United — Moyes’ history and the fact United have lost a lot at West Ham recently.

Bayern vs Leipzig — Top of the table clash though both teams are increasingly weary.

Chelsea vs Leeds — Lampard vs Bielsa and everything that entails.

Montpellier vs PSG — It might not last, but right now the 2012 champions are just two points behind PSG.

Sunday

Lille vs Monaco — Both are just two points behind PSG with the highest goals scored after the champions.

Roma vs Sassuolo — Until last weekend both were undefeated on the pitch.

Spurs vs Arsenal — North London derby where Mourinho welcomes Arsenal playing Jose football.

Liverpool vs Wolves — Always feisty this one and the kind of game Nuno is always up for.

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 13

Nimes 0 Marseille 2

Rennes 2 Lens 1

Montpellier 2 PSG 2

Lille 2 Monaco 2

Nantes 1 Strasbourg 0

Dijon 1 St Etienne 1

Angers 3 Lorient 0

Bordeaux 2 Brest 2

Reims 1 Nice 2

Metz 0 Lyon 2

Last week’s score — 6/10

Season so far — 23/47

This Football Weekend Nov 28-29

Let’s get right into another exciting weekend of continental football.

Saturday

Sassuolo vs Inter — 2nd, unbeaten, playing great football welcome disheveled Inter in 5th.

Valencia vs Atletico — Classic rivalry played between two currently highly motivated teams.

Gladbach vs Schalke — Last time Schalke won 24 games ago was against Gladbach.

Sunday

Southampton vs United — Tricky visit for Ole’s men at high flying Saints.

Chelsea vs Spurs — Lamps vs Jose, two in-form teams and phenomenal talent in a title battle.

Arsenal vs Wolves — Battle of the risk-averse teams who should be doing better.

Napoli vs Roma — Both have established their title credentials, with the visitors in sublime form.

La Real vs Villarreal — 1st vs 3rd, rare chance for both to at least finish in the top four.

St Etienne vs Lille — Claude Puel past and present, with the veteran manager on the brink.

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 12

Strasbourg 1 Rennes 1

Marseille 1 Nantes 0

PSG 2 Bordeaux 0

Lyon 2 Reims 0

Lorient 1 Montpellier 2

Monaco 3 Nimes 1

Metz 1 Brest 1

Lens 1 Angers 2

Nice 2 Djion 0

St Etienne 1 Lille 2

Last week’s score — 6/9

Season so far — 17/37

This Football Weekend Nov 20-23

The merits of the international break have been debated by all and sundry, but at least for the next four months it's all about club football. We get back into the swing of things with a cracking set of fixtures this weekend.

Friday

Monaco vs PSG — Still an important game with the hosts improving and the visitors focused on the continent.

Saturday

Villarreal vs Real — 2nd vs 4th at La Ceramica where Real haven’t won in three seasons.

Spurs vs City — Jose vs Pep, Kane, Son, De Bruyne, Torres and shaky defences.

Atletico vs Barca — A new Atletico? Can’t be a better stage for Joao Felix and co to prove it.

Sunday

Cadiz vs La Real — The surprise leaders face another test at surprise high flyers.

Leeds vs Arsenal — A classic rivalry revisited in the league after quite a while.

Liverpool vs Leicester — 3rd vs 1st, Klopp vs Rodgers, chance for both to make a statement.

Napoli vs Milan — 3rd vs 1st, chance for both teams to lay a marker.

Monday

Wolves vs Southampton — Two smart clubs with upward aspirations and intelligent managers.

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 11

Rennes 2 Bordeaux 1

Monaco 2 PSG 2

Brest 2 St Etienne 1

Nantes 1 Metz 1

Reims 3 Nimes 1

Dijon 1 Lens 2

Montpellier 2 Strasbourg 0

Angers 2 Lyon 3

Lille 3 Lorient 0

Last round’s score — 5/10

Season so far — 11/28

This Football Weekend Nov 7-8

What a weekend of football we have before the last international break of the year! The big games speak for themselves so let’s get right into it.

Saturday

Everton vs United — Both have questions to answer in this big northwest game featuring lots of great talent.

Mainz vs Schalke — Neither team has won a game yet this season with immense pressure on both.

Barca vs Betis — The Qique Setien derby with goals almost always a feature.

Dortmund vs Bayern — Der Klassiker with both teams separated at the top only by goal difference.

Atletico vs Cadiz — Cadiz are flying high and already have one win in Madrid. Can they get another?

PSG vs Rennes — 1st vs 3rd with both under pressure after European disappointments.

Sunday

Lazio vs Juve — Been a fun fixture for 2 seasons now and both teams getting into a semblance of form.

Getafe vs Villarreal — Rivals for European spots with diametrically opposite styles.

Leicester vs Wolves — Another clash of European hopefuls and a great contrast in styles to boot.

Atalanta vs Inter — Both came into the season with high hopes, but both have questions to answer.

La Real vs Granada — Overachieving teams who are doing well on both fronts.

Nice vs Monaco — Derby de la Cote d'Azur with exciting attacking talent in form.

City vs Liverpool — Pep vs Klopp, still the two best teams in the league and the sheer quality of the players.

Leverkusen vs Gladbach — Competitors for Champions League qualification in brilliant form.

Arsenal vs Villa — A bit of a grudge match with plenty of exciting talent.

Valencia vs Real — Always one of Spain’s biggest games.

Lyon vs St Etienne — France’s biggest derby.

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 10

Strasbourg 0 Marseille 1

Bordeaux 2 Montpellier 1

PSG 2 Rennes 1

Brest 1 Lille 2

Lens 1 Reims 1

Lorient 2 Nantes 0

Nimes 1 Angers 1

Metz 2 Dijon 0

Nice 1 Monaco 2

Lyon 3 St Etienne 0

Last week’s score — 4/9

Season so far — 6/18

This Football Weekend Oct 31 - Nov 2

Time flies and another weekend of riveting football across Europe’s top five leagues is upon us. Here are the games I will be keeping an eye on.

Saturday

Athletic vs Sevilla — San Memes is always difficult for top teams and both sides need a win to climb up the table. 

Liverpool vs West Ham — The Reds are going to play a 4th choice centre back and the Hammers can never be discounted in such games.

Gladbach vs Leipzig — Champions League hangover for both teams, but it’s still Rose vs Nagelsmann featuring plenty of good players.

Sunday

United vs Arsenal — Traditional rivalry with the right mix of attacking flair and defensive incompetence.

Napoli vs Sassuolo — 2nd vs 3rd with 30 goals scored between the two in 10 games.

Roma vs Fiorentina — Grudge match with both teams capable of scoring plenty.

Sampdoria vs Genoa — Derby della Lanterna with the hosts buzzing in surprisingly good form.

Valencia vs Getafe — La Liga’s grudge match extraordinaire since 2019.

Lille vs Lyon — Free-scoring teams featuring the two best sides after PSG.

Monday

Leeds vs Leicester — Bielsa vs Rodgers with both teams capable of playing sublime football.

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 9

Rennes 2 Brest 0

Nantes 0 PSG 3

St Etienne 1 Montpellier 0

Reims 1 Strasbourg 1

Angers 2 Nice 1

Nimes 1 Metz 2

Dijon 1 Lorient 0

Monaco 1 Bordeaux 1

Lille 2 Lyon 2

Last week’s score - 2/9

This Football Weekend Oct 23-26

After a satisfying midweek of European football, time to turn our attention back to domestic matters this weekend. Let’s take a look at some of the most intriguing fixtures on offer.

Friday

Villa vs Leeds — Had a lot of needle in the Championship, likely to be just as feisty in the top tier.

Saturday

West Ham vs City — The Hammers are must watch right now while City’s defence remains a problem.

Atalanta vs Sampdoria — In form teams scoring great goals.

Bayern vs Frankfurt — A supreme Bayern hosting one of the few teams who aren’t afraid to attack them.

Leipzig vs Hertha — East German battle between two teams that can score.

Barca vs Real — El Clasico. Both come in to the game on the back of league defeats. Lots of stories as usual.

United vs Chelsea — Rarely meets the hype, but is a big game between top four rivals.

Dortmund vs Schalke — Rivierderby with a growing chasm between the sides.

Atletico vs Betis — Simeone vs Pellegrini and both teams have higher aspirations.

Sunday

Southampton vs Everton — Hasenhuttl vs Ancelotti and a test for Everton without James.

Cadiz vs Villarreal — The yellow battle between overachievers.

Nice vs Lille — Tricky test for both after Europa League exertions, with Lille playing sublime football.

Getafe vs Granada — Two teams hard as nails who’ve already claimed big scalps this season.

Arsenal vs Leicester — Two teams very rarely hard, but a lot of fun to watch on their day.

Lyon vs Monaco — Battle of France’s underachievers who really should be doing better.

Monday

Milan vs Roma — Zlatan, Dzeko and both teams playing really good football.

Ligue 1 Picks Matchday 8

Rennes 2 Angers 0

Lorient 2 Marseille 2

PSG 3 Dijon 0

Lens 2 Nantes 1

Metz 1 St Etienne 1

Brest 1 Strasbourg 1

Bordeaux 1 Nimes 2

Montpellier 0 Reims 0

Nice 1 Lille 2

Lyon 2 Monaco 1

This Football Weekend Oct 16-19

After an international break dominated by all sorts of stories including COVID, I am looking forward to watching some club football on the pitch again. Not withstanding any quarantines or postponements, these are the games I am looking forward to this weekend.

Saturday

Granada vs Sevilla — Regional rivalry between two excellently coached teams.

Everton vs Liverpool — Merseyside derby at the top end of the table, not joking.

Napoli vs Atalanta — 8 goals in 2 games welcomes 13 goals in 3 games.

Augsburg vs Leipzig — 2nd hosts 1st in Germany. Seriously, Augsburg are currently 2nd!

Hertha vs Stuttgart — Mid-table high scorers clash.

Hoffenheim vs Dortmund — Lots of firepower, lots of youngsters, what’s not to like.

Inter vs Milan — Milan derby with both teams undefeated and aiming for the top. Again, not joking.

City vs Arsenal — Pep vs Arteta, Partey’s debut and defences there to be exposed.

Getafe vs Barca — As if Koeman needed another early test, here comes Bordalas.

Marseille vs Bordeaux — Historic clash and AVB needs a win big time.

Sunday

Bologna vs Sassuolo — De Zerbi’s Sassuolo are must watch and it is a regional derby.

Monaco vs Montpellier — In form Ben Yedder against in form Savenier.

Villarreal vs Valencia — Derbi de la Comunitat with Emery and Gracia facing unique pressures.

St Etienne vs Nice — Puel’s exciting young team vs Vieira’s exciting young team.

Spurs vs West Ham — Maybe Bale, but really these two London teams are just unpredictable.

Schalke vs Union — Goal difference of -14 after 3 games. Can Baum halt the Schalke car crash?

Leicester vs Villa — The two Midlands rivals have combined to score 23 in 7 games. More please.

Betis vs La Real — Darlings of the neutrals, unexpectedly 2nd vs 3rd.

Lille vs Lens — Long-awaited Derby du Nord, again unexpectedly 2nd vs 3rd.

Monday

Verona vs Genoa — Sign me up for Juric getting more justice against his former employers.

Leeds vs Wolves — The two best promoted teams of recent times face off.

Ligue 1 Picks Round 26

On the back of three successive victories, Monaco have somehow pulled themselves into the battle for Champions League qualification in France. Robert Moreno’s men now stand only three points behind a stuttering Rennes, who’ve gone three games without a win. For now, that coveted third place is being contested by Rennes, Lille and Monaco, but the sheer inconsistency of the teams below Marseille means we can’t rule others joining the battle if results go their way. These are my picks for this weekend.

Nice 2 Brest 0

Metz 1 Lyon 2

Marseille 1 Nantes 0

Strasbourg 2 Amiens 1

Angers 0 Montpellier 1

Lille 2 Toulouse 0

Dijon 1 Monaco 2

St Etienne 0 Reims 0

Rennes 2 Nimes 1

PSG 2 Bordeaux 1

Last Round Score - 5/10

Season Score - 29/60

Ligue 1 Picks Round 25

That PSG are winning the league as a mere formality is no surprise. However, not many would have predicted Marseille pulling well clear of the rest in second. Hence, its only natural, in what is becoming a bit of a trend on my weekly picks for Ligue 1, the main focus is again going to be the race for third and a place in the Champions League next season. Rennes, who looked like they were beginning to take control of the coveted spot, haven’t won in two, allowing Lille to reduce the gap to one point on account of three consecutive wins. Visiting Reims is a tough test for Rennes and if they slip up, Lille can overtake them provided they complete the difficult task of beating Marseille at home.

Elsewhere there’s all sorts of jostling for Europa League positions, with the obvious caveat that the likes of Monaco and Lyon actually aspire to be higher than that. In a battle between the last two champions not named PSG, seventh placed Monaco welcome Montpellier in fifth. Robert Moreno has eked out two consecutive victories, but a home win against a tough opponent will give everyone at Monaco the belief that they finally are on an upward trajectory, even if there isn’t much to salvage this season. Meanwhile, Claude Puel got some relief as St Etienne made it to the semis of the Coupe de France, but another victory is vital for Les Verts to not get dragged into an unexpected relegation battle.

Monaco 2 Montpellier 1

Amiens 0 PSG 4

Bordeaux 2 Dijon 1

Nantes 0 Metz 0

Toulouse 0 Nice 2

Nimes 3 Angers 1

Lyon 2 Strasbourg 2

Brest 1 St Etienne 2

Reims 1 Rennes 1

Lille 1 Marseille 1

Last Round Score - 7/10

Season Score - 24/50

Ligue 1 Picks Round 24

PSG vs Lyon. Even with the vast disparity in wealth between the two clubs, by most measures this should always be first against second in Ligue 1. The fact that the visitors are in sixth, is a damning indictment on what is turning out to be a bit of a shambolic season for Lyon. Rudi Garcia’s men are barely hanging on in the race for Champions League qualification, but a defeat at the home of the champions coupled with Rennes beating Brest is likely to end that quest. Can Lyon do anything to stop the inevitable? Even if Rudi Garcia devises a plan to stifle PSG’s attack, I just can’t see Les Gones having the mental fortitude to withstand any sort of pressure for too long. Time for my picks.

Round 24 Picks

Angers 1 Lille 2

Marseille 2 Toulouse 0

Metz 1 Bordeaux 1

Nice 2 Nimes 0

Amiens 1 Monaco 2

Dijon 1 Nantes 1

Rennes 2 Brest 1

Montpellier 2 St Etienne 1

Strasbourg 2 Reims 0

PSG 4 Lyon 1

Last Round Score - 4/10

Season Score - 17/40

Ligue 1 Picks Round 23

It was an incredible weekend for Rennes last time out. Julien Stephan’s side started the fun with an incredible 3-2 comeback win over Nantes and then saw all their rivals for third lose. Could they further entrench their position in the top three when they visit fourth-placed Lille? Time is running out for the chasing pack if they want to keep their champions league dreams alive. On to my picks for this midweek round.

Round 23 Picks

Lille 1 Rennes 1

Monaco 2 Angers 1

Nantes 0 PSG 3

Toulouse 1 Strasbourg 1

Reims 1 Nice 2

Nimes 2 Dijon 1

Montpellier 0 Metz 1

Lyon 2 Amiens 0

Brest 1 Bordeaux 1

St Etienne 1 Marseille 1

Last Round Score - 3/10

Season Score - 13/30

Ligue 1 Picks Round 22

Lyon seem like they are beginning to get their act together as they chase third spot and a place in the Champions League. With Rennes also hosting sixth place Nantes, it feels like a vital weekend in the battle for third, provided Lyon can repeat their midweek cup win away at Nice. Time for my picks.

Round 22 Picks

Rennes 1 Nantes 1

PSG 3 Montpellier 0

Angers 0 Reims 0

Strasbourg 2 Lille 1

Amiens 1 Toulouse 1

Dijon 1 Brest 1

Nimes 0 Monaco 3

Nice 1 Lyon 3

Metz 1 St Etienne 2

Bordeaux 1 Marseille 1

Last Round Score - 6/10

Season Score - 10/20

Ligue 1 Picks Round 21

After what seems like an eternity of cup football thanks to the Coupe de France and the Coupe de la Ligue, it's time for league action to return this weekend. While the middle of the table still looks extremely congested, it's noticeable that Marseille and Rennes are pulling away in second and third respectively. Clubs like Lille, Lyon, Monaco and Nice have to start a winning streak if they are to have any ambitions of playing in Europe, let alone the Champions League. That’s going to be the main storyline in France for the rest of the season, outside of the PSG soap opera of course. Lets make some picks.

Round 21 Picks

Nice 1 Rennes 1

Marseille 2 Angers 1

Montpellier 1 Dijon 0

Reims 1 Metz 0

Brest 3 Amiens 0

Monaco 3 Strasbourg 1

St Etienne 2 Nimes 0

Lyon 3 Toulouse 0

Nantes 1 Bordeaux 1

Lille 1 PSG 3

Last Round Score - 4/10

PSG's Fantastic Four

Julien Laurens with an interesting piece on PSG’s front four:

Maybe the key for Tuchel is actually in the midfield and finding the right combination of players to back the all-star quartet. Marquinhos and Verratti? Idrissa Gueye and Verratti? Gueye and Marquinhos? Room for Leandro Paredes, even? Against Monaco, the pairing of Verratti and Gueye showed its limitations. Neither of them is a natural holding midfielder, and to protect the Paris back four, Tuchel needs a player who stays deep and sits in front of the defence. In the first meeting with Saint-Etienne game, Marquinhos and Paredes were the two defensive midfielders, and they certainly have a more defensive profile than both Verratti and Gueye. The better balance of defensive discipline and playmaking is probably Verratti with Marquinhos, but whoever plays there will need some help from the front four tracking back.

This is a unique perspective from Laurens. Rather than debate whether all four should start, why not play the best combination of midfielders who can protect the defence without sacrificing the potency of the attack. My only rebuttal to this point is that PSG’s opponents in the Champions League round of 16 are Borussia Dortmund. Lucien Favre’s men have been so defensively poor this season, that even lower half teams in the Bundesliga have been able to score against them easily. If Tuchel wants to put winning first, any three out of four should be more than a handful for Dortmund’s troubled defence. Playing an open system unnecessarily gives Dortmund a greater chance, and if PSG’s recent European history is anything to go by, even the whiff of a chance for their opponents could derail them.

Kudos to Gian Piero Gasperini and Robert Moreno

There is plenty out there on the internet if you want criticism of Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel after their Inter and PSG sides respectively drew their home games. It is in these instances that I really despise big club journalism in football, because analysis is often done through the prism of the most popular. For me, the bigger story is how Atalanta and Monaco went away from home to the league leaders — it bares repeating, away from home — and scared the living daylights of the hosts to the point that they were relieved to have escaped with a draw. The football played by Atalanta and Monaco was a joy to watch, the attacking football and intricate passing giving fans the ultimate adrenaline rush. For that, we salute Messrs Gasperini and Moreno for their belief and commitment to playing their way. The weekend belonged to them.

Ligue 1 Picks Round 20

The second half of the Ligue 1 season gets underway this weekend. Top billing goes to Friday’s opener, when third place Rennes welcome second place Marseille. Rennes may not be the fanciest team, but for a club their size 2019 delivered a lot of highs. There were the Europa League knockout ties against Betis and Arsenal, a stunning Coupe de France win in the final against PSG and an excellent first half of the season this time around. In a league table that is extremely tight below second, Rennes could lay a serious claim to the last Champions League spot if they can get something here. However, I think Andre Villas Boas has done one thing extremely well this season and that is to make Marseille very hard to beat. After suffering heartbreak on several occasions in trying to qualify for Europe’s premier competition, Marseille simply can’t afford to let go of this significant advantage considering the struggles of Monaco and Lyon this season.

Speaking of Monaco, after firing their title-winning manager Leonardo Jardim for the second time, they embark on a journey into the unknown with former Spain manager Robert Moreno. The new manager couldn’t have asked for a tougher test, because first up is a visit to PSG. Considering the Monegasques have scored the second most goals in the league after the champions, there is potential for fireworks at the Parc des Princes. However, Moreno will have to show an unparalleled defensive prowess if his team is to keep out the increasingly dangerous trident of Neymar, Mbappe and Icardi.

There’s a lot of jostling in mid table which leads to some intriguing fixtures. Only six points separate fourth and fourteenth. A couple of wins and you’re in the mix for Europe. Or at least that’s what those who follow the big underachievers of Lyon, Nice, Bordeaux and St Etienne may say. Lyon visit Bordeaux with their season on the precipice after season-ending injuries to Memphis Depay and Jeff Reine-Adelaide. The hosts themselves have thrown away a promising start to the season and with their fans increasingly agitated against the owners, all bets are off on how long Paulo Sousa’s tenure will last. Nice and St Etienne play against teams that should be lower than them in the table but aren’t, so Patrick Vieira and Claude Puel will have to start the new year in better form as they face Angers and Nantes respectively.

Round 20 Picks

Rennes 0 Marseille 1

Bordeaux 1 Lyon 1

Metz 2 Strasbourg 1

Toulouse 1 Brest 1

Nimes 0 Reims 2

Amiens 2 Montpellier 3

Angers 1 Nice 1

St Etienne 2 Nantes 0

Dijon 1 Lille 3

PSG 4 Monaco 2

New Managers in Europe's Top 5 Leagues

Time has flown and the new European football season is almost upon us. It has been a relatively quiet transfer window this summer, but I for one, am looking forward to seeing new faces in the dugout and the impact they are going to have on their clubs. These are the new managers taking charge of their clubs for the upcoming season in Europe’s top five leagues.

England

Brighton - Graham Potter

Chelsea - Frank Lampard

Newcastle - Steve Bruce

France

Brest - Olivier Dall’Oglio

Lyon - Sylvinho

Saint-Etienne - Ghislain Printant

Marseille - Andre Villas-Boas

Amiens - Luka Elsner

Dijon - Stephane Jobard

Germany

Hoffenheim - Alfred Schreuder

RB Leipzig - Julian Nagelsmann

Wolfsburg - Oliver Glasner

Schalke - David Wagner

Borussia Monchengladbach - Marco Rose

Hertha Berlin - Ante Covic

Cologne - Achim Beierlorzer

Italy

Roma - Paulo Fonseca

Juventus - Maurizio Sarri

Milan - Marco Giampaolo

Inter - Antonio Conte

Sampdoria - Eusebio Di Franceso

Genoa - Aurelio Andreazzoli

Hellas Verona - Ivan Juric

Spain

Real Betis - Rubi

Alaves - Asier Garitano

Sevilla - Julen Lopetegui

Espanyol - David Gallego

Guingamp vs PSG

Now really, this should be no contest. That these two operate in different stratospheres is no surprise. However, since PSG became the club they now are, no French club has been as pesky against them as Guingamp. The champions have won only twice in their last six visits to the Roudourou. In fact Guingamp even had the temerity to take a point at the Parc de Princes last season, having led the champions by two goals for most of the game. Carlo Ancelotti, Laurent Blanc and Unai Emery all had problems in Brittany, so this could be an early season test to see new manager Thomas Tuchel’s mettle. Antoine Koumbaré — the first manager of PSG when QSI took over, always looks to prove a point against his former employers.

Should also be Kylian Mbappe’s first game since he played a starring role in the World Cup final. It’s going to be interesting to see if Tuchel continues to play most of the youngsters he fielded in the opening weekend win against Caen, or if this is where most of the regulars begin their season.