Bordeaux vs. Lille (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
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Ligue 1 champions Lille will be looking to extend their unbeaten run across all competitions to 11 matches when they travel to Bordeaux on Wednesday night.
The hosts, meanwhile, are hoping to claim back-to-back league wins for the first time since May and steer themselves clear of the relegation zone.
We say: Bordeaux 1-2 Lille
Earlier this season, Bordeaux may have fancied their chances of beating a struggling Lille outfit, but with Les Dogues now enjoying a stronger run of form across all competitions, Wednesday's hosts are set to face a much tougher challenge.
Lille might not secure another comfortable three-goal victory as they did last season, but they should have enough quality in their side to come away with all three points.
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Clermont vs. Strasbourg (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
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Clermont will welcome Strasbourg to the Stade Gabriel Montpied for their Ligue 1 encounter on Wednesday night.
The Lancers have won only one of their last seven home games in the top flight, while the visitors have claimed all three points in only one of their last five matches on the road.
We say: Clermont 1-2 Strasbourg
With nine points and 11 places separating these two sides heading into Wednesday's clash, Strasbourg are seemingly the strong favourites to come away with a victory.
Clermont are sure to put up a fight, though the visitors should do just enough to claim all three points at the Stade Gabriel Montpied.
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Lorient vs. PSG (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
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Seeking to cap off 2021 in grand style, Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain visit Stade du Moustoir to face off against Lorient on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the home side head into the game off the back of eight consecutive defeats across all competitions and will be looking to end this barren run of results.
We say: Lorient 0-2 Paris Saint-Germain
PSG have a number of key players missing but should still have too much quality for a struggling Lorient side. We fancy the away team to secure all three points with relative ease at the end of the 90 minutes.
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> How PSG could line up against Lorient
Lyon vs. Metz (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
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Lyon will be hoping they can end a run of three Ligue 1 games without a win when they welcome relegation candidates Metz to the Parc Olympique Lyonnais on Wednesday night.
Les Gones have only lost one of their 11 home matches across all competitions this season, while the Maroons have won only two of their last 10 games on the road.
We say: Lyon 2-0 Metz
Despite causing a surprise upset in this fixture last season, Metz will be the underdogs heading to the Parc Olympique Lyonnais and could be in for a difficult challenge against a Lyon side desperate to turn their domestic fortunes around.
The absences of Sarr and Pajot in midfield will likely be felt by the visitors, while the return of Paqueta is a boost for the hosts, who should possess enough quality in their side to secure a routine win on Wednesday.
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Marseille vs. Reims (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
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Marseille will be looking to consolidate their place in the Champions League positions when they welcome Reims to the Stade Velodrome for their Ligue 1 encounter on Wednesday night.
The hosts have won only two of their last six French top-flight games on home soil, after winning seven of their first nine under head coach Jorge Sampaoli, while the visitors have won only one of their last six league matches on the road.
We say: Marseille 2-1 Reims
Even though Reims have performed well in recent meetings with Marseille, Wednesday's hosts will be the strong favourites to come away with all three points.
The visitors, who have scored in each of their last six matches, will likely pose a threat in the final third, but Les Phoceens have a much stronger squad which should do enough to secure all three points.
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Monaco vs. Rennes (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
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Monaco will play their final match of 2021 on Wednesday with a chance to move into the top-five of the Ligue 1 standings when they host Rennes from Stade Louis II.
Les Monegasques advanced to the Round of 32 at the Coupe de France this past weekend, defeating Red Star 2-0, while Stade Rennais scored early and hung on against Lorient in their cup tie, winning 1-0.
We say: Monaco 1-0 Rennes
Monaco have enjoyed plenty of success against Stade Rennais, beating them more than any other Ligue 1 opponent (48 times) in their history, and even if Golovin cannot go, their top attacking threats are starting to pick up their game, plus they are unbeaten in nine consecutive matches played at Stade Louis II.
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Montpellier vs. Angers (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
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Montpellier HSC have a chance to extend their winning streak to four matches in all competitions as they wrap up 2021 with a date against Angers in Ligue 1 action on Wednesday from Stade de la Mosson.
La Paillade are currently fifth in the table, three points above Les Scoistes, who have lost their last two games, including a 2-0 defeat in the Coupe de France on Sunday.
We say: Montpellier HSC 2-0 Angers
Angers appear to be a little short on confidence right now and are lacking that quality in the final third, while their track record versus Montpellier in recent years has not been good, winning only one of their previous seven road fixtures against them.
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Nice vs. Lens (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
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Two Ligue 1 sides, who are currently in the hunt for a place in Europe, will face each other on Wednesday when Nice host Lens from Allianz Riviera.
Les Aiglons are winless and goalless in three consecutive French league matches played on their home soil, while the side located in Pas-de-Calais in Northern France are a point behind Montpellier for a spot in the Europa Conference League next season.
We say: Nice 2-1 Lens
Nice have had difficulty winning at home, however, they have won their last three fixtures versus Lens in Ligue 1, and they have been more consistent than their opponents, who seem to struggle in close games, conceding a goal beyond the 90th minute in their last two league fixtures.
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St Etienne vs. Nantes (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
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On Wednesday, the Ligue 1 season continues for Saint-Etienne and Nantes, who face each other in week 19 action from Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
Les Verts are bottom of the table, losing four consecutive matches domestically, while La Maison Jaune have won their last two league fixtures and are currently in 10th with 25 points.
We say: Saint-Etienne 1-0 Nantes
Dupraz has a reputation for reviving teams on the brink of relegation, and playing Nantes could be just what they need to get back to winning ways in the league, losing only two of their previous 17 Ligue 1 affairs versus La Maison Jaune.
Nantes have had difficulty against the lower teams in the French top flight, and they have struggled away from home, winning only one of their last six road games.
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Troyes vs. Brest (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
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Troyes and Brest meet for the first time in the French top flight since 2013 at Stade de l'Aube on Wednesday evening.
ESTAC are currently 17th in the Ligue 1 table, one point above the relegation playoff spot, and les Pirates are 12th.
We say: Troyes 1-2 Brest
Brest will hope that defeat to Montpellier last time out was just a blip and they will be boosted by the returning Chardonnet in defence. Troyes have tended to be on the wrong end of close encounters this season and we think it will be the same again here.
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Barney Corkhill
