Rennes vs. Lens (Sunday, 12.00pm)
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Rennes host Lens in Ligue 1 on Sunday, with a closely fought game expected between two sides who finished only one point apart last season.
Rennes ultimately pipped newly promoted Lens to a Europa Conference League qualification place on the last day of the season.
We say: Rennes 2-1 Lens
We expect to see an entertaining game between two sides who should be competing in the top half of Ligue 1 this season, but ultimately Rennes have more quality and depth within their squad.
A couple of departures have left Lens with some holes to fix, while replicating a fine first season following promotion is always a tough task for any side.
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St Etienne vs. Lorient (Sunday, 2.00pm)
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Saint-Etienne take on Lorient in Ligue 1 on Sunday, with both sides keeping faith with their managers despite testing seasons last time out.
Ultimately, Claude Puel and Christophe Pelissier achieved their respective clubs' primary objectives of avoiding relegation, but they will be hoping for more than that in the coming campaign.
We say: Saint-Etienne 1-1 Lorient
We expect to see a closely fought game between these two sides on Sunday, with the visitors certainly capable of claiming a positive result.
Pelissier's sides hopes this season will largely depend on Yoane Wissa and Terem Moffi, who both hit double figures in Ligue 1 last season, but they have enough firepower to trouble a St Etienne side who are yet to sign a single player in the transfer window.
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Strasbourg vs. Angers (Sunday, 2.00pm)
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Strasbourg will be looking to make the perfect start to their 2021-22 Ligue 1 campaign when they welcome Angers to Stade de la Meinau on Sunday afternoon.
Angers picked up 44 points from their 38 matches last season to claim 13th in France's top flight, while Strasbourg finished 15th with a total of 42 points, which left them just two points outside of the relegation zone.
We say: Strasbourg 2-1 Angers
Both teams will feel that they can hurt the other in the final third of the field, and we are expecting a close contest on Saturday. That said, the addition of Gameiro could be key for Strasbourg, and we are predicting a narrow success for Stephan's side in their opening match of the campaign.
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Nice vs. Reims (Sunday, 2.00pm)
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Nice host Reims in Ligue 1 on Sunday, with the visitors hoping to avoid the relegation battle which they were dragged into last season.
Nice, meanwhile, will be hoping to challenge for the European places having attracted Lille's title-winning manager Christophe Galtier to the club.
We say: Nice 2-0 Reims
Nice have made some seriously impressive moves this summer, both on and off the pitch, so we expect them to have too much class for Reims.
The visitors have failed to replace last season's top goalscorer Dia so far during the transfer window, which does not spell good news for their survival hopes after only narrowly avoiding relegation last season.
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Bordeaux vs. Clermont (Sunday, 2.00pm)
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Bordeaux take on newly promoted Clermont in Ligue 1 on Sunday, with the visitors looking to make a bright start to their first ever season in France's top flight.
Bordeaux, meanwhile, will be aiming to improve on last season's 12th-placed finish.
We say: Bordeaux 1-1 Clermont
Petkovic will be aware that he has a sizable task on his hands to turn Bordeaux back into a regular top half club in Ligue 1, and it may take time for his methods to filter through to his players.
Moreover, the visitors undoubtedly have enough attacking firepower to make life difficult for their opponents, and they can play with freedom in the early weeks of the season.
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Metz vs. Lille (Sunday, 4.00pm)
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Lille's defence of their Ligue 1 crown begins on Sunday at the Stade Saint-Symphorien, as Frederic Antonetti's Metz open their campaign against the champions in the first weekend.
Les Dogues have already been in competitive action this term - beating Paris Saint-Germain in the Trophee des Champions - while Metz enjoyed a stellar pre-season period.
We say: Metz 0-2 Lille
Lille's affinity for away clean sheets and victories were key in their successful pursuit of silverware last year, and one can only imagine what victory over PSG in the Trophee des Champions has done for their confidence.
Metz did impress during their pre-season games but are unlikely to experience much joy against the champions, even if Gourvennec is still finding his feet at the club.
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Montpellier vs. Marseille (Sunday, 7.45pm)
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The first competitive game of the Olivier Dall'Oglio era at Montpellier HSC takes place on Sunday, as La Paillade open their Ligue 1 campaign against Marseille at the Stade de la Mosson.
The hosts claimed an eighth-placed finish under the tutelage of Michel Der Zakarian last term, while Marseille's revival under Jorge Sampaoli propelled them to a fifth-placed finish and a spot in the Europa League.
We say: Montpellier HSC 1-3 Marseille
Despite losing a proven goalscorer in Thauvin, Marseille are building something special, and such a positive set of pre-season results has only increased the optimism in Sampaoli's ranks.
Delort and Laborde are capable of breaching almost any defence in France on their day, but Dall'Oglio's pre-season has not gone according to plan, and we can only back this new-look Marseille to get off on the right foot with a dominant success.
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Barney Corkhill
