Saturday's Ligue 1 predictions including Le Havre vs. Nice

Le Havre vs. Nice (Saturday, 4.00pm)

© Reuters

Nice can temporarily close the gap between themselves and Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain when they head to Stade Oceane on Saturday to battle Le Havre.

The Normandy side are 11th in the table, losing 2-1 to Strasbourg last weekend, while Nice are four points back of first place following a 2-1 victory at home to Reims.

We say: Le Havre 0-0 Nice

Both sides tend to focus on defence first, and they each have the personnel to frustrate the opposition, so we expect to see a rather cagey affair on Saturday.

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Lens vs. Reims (Saturday, 8.00pm)

© Reuters

On Saturday, two sides neck-and-neck in the Ligue 1 table can temporarily move into a European place as Lens host Reims at Stade Bollaert-Delelis.

Les Sang et Or and Reims are each on 23 points, with the former ahead on goal difference, playing to a 0-0 draw with Montpellier in their previous domestic encounter, while Reims conceded late, losing 2-1 at Nice.

We say: Lens 2-1 Reims

It has been over 40 years since Reims defeated Lens in a top-flight contest (2-0 in March 1977), and given the visitors defensive vulnerabilities away from home recently and how sharp Lens have been at Stade Bollaert-Delelis, we expect to see another narrow victory for Les Sang et Or.

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