Metz vs. Montpellier (Wednesday, 6.00pm)
© Reuters
Following three straight wins, hosts Metz meet Montpellier HSC at Stade Saint-Symphorien on Wednesday, aiming to extend their five-game unbeaten streak since the turn of the year.
Meanwhile, Michel Der Zakarian's visitors are winless in eight league outings and have subsequently sunk into the bottom half of the Ligue 1 table.
We say: Metz 1-1 Montpellier HSC
Two teams on very different trajectories meet on Wednesday, with the hosts growing used to the previously rare position of favourites.
Despite boasting one of the league's best defences up against one of the worst, Metz may be held to a draw this time, as Montpellier's losing streak surely must end soon.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Bordeaux vs. Lille (Wednesday, 6.00pm)
© Reuters
Bordeaux will look to bounce back immediately from their cruel defeat to Lyon when they welcome Ligue 1 table-toppers Lille to the Matmut Atlantique on Wednesday evening.
The visitors, meanwhile, returned to the top of the pile as Yusuf Yazici's winner was enough to see off Dijon at the weekend.
We say: Bordeaux 1-1 Lille
Neither of these two powerhouses give much away defensively, and Bordeaux were incredibly unfortunate not to claim at least a point from their battle with Lyon. Even though Lille are leading the way, the manner of their performances in 2021 has not been particularly dominant so far, and we can see Bordeaux doing enough to hold Les Dogues to a draw this week.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Rennes vs. Lorient (Wednesday, 6.00pm)
© Reuters
After Lorient's most recent result brought Ligue 1 to a standstill, the Breton club now travel to Rennes on Wednesday looking to register three wins on the spin.
The fifth-placed hosts, meanwhile, lost their last outing 1-0 at home to new leaders Lille, finally breaking a seven-match unbeaten streak.
We say: Rennes 2-1 Lorient
Rennes can prove their relative class to break the Lorient spell this week, as Stephan's men boast enough ability to avoid faltering at home against lowly opposition.
The visitors' extraordinary trend of late winners must come to an end, with a long, hard-fought slog against relegation still in prospect this spring.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Reims vs. Angers (Wednesday, 6.00pm)
© Reuters
Reims will be looking to extend their winning run when they welcome Angers to the Stade Auguste-Delaune on Wednesday evening.
The home side have picked up back-to-back victories without conceding to move up to 12th, six points behind eighth-place opponents Angers.
We say: Reims 1-0 Angers
Reims have won back-to-back matches and can move to within three points of their European-chasing opponents with another victory on Wednesday.
Angers returned to winning ways last time out, but they have won only five of their 11 away matches this term and we can see them slipping up in this game.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Strasbourg vs. Brest (Wednesday, 6.00pm)
© Reuters
Fifteenth faces 14th as Strasbourg host Brest on Wednesday evening, hoping to bounce back from their Ligue 1 defeat last weekend.
Meanwhile, the visitors have been unable to hold on to a place inside the top 10, as they have lost five of their last six league matches.
We say: Strasbourg 2-1 Brest
Four of the last five meetings between the two sides have seen the home team come out on top and Strasbourg will fancy their chances of a victory on Wednesday against a Brest side who have conceded 10 goals in their last four matches. The hosts should have enough quality to seal all three points in what is expected to be a tight encounter.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Lens vs. Marseille (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
© Reuters
Marseille will be looking to bring an end to their four-match losing run in Ligue 1 when they travel to Lens on Wednesday evening.
Les Phoceens have been on a terrible run that has seen them slip down to ninth, two points behind opponents Lens having played two games fewer, leading to a fan revolt.
We say: Lens 1-0 Marseille
Taking all competitions into account, Marseille have lost four games in a row and gone five without a victory.
All is not well at Stade Velodrome and we can see that losing run being prolonged with defeat at Stade Bollaert-Delelis against a Lens side on the up.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Dijon vs. Lyon (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
© Reuters
Two teams separated by 17 places and 31 points in the Ligue 1 table will go head-to-head in Wednesday's encounter as Dijon welcome Lyon to the Stade Gaston-Gerard.
The hosts are facing a second title-chasing team in a matter of days after falling to a 1-0 defeat to Lille at the weekend, whereas Lyon scraped a 2-1 win over Bordeaux.
We say: Dijon 0-2 Lyon
Dijon have proven incredibly difficult for even the top teams to break down since Linares took the reins, but with a league-low 15 goals scored this season, their attacking problems are still very much alive. Lyon will undoubtedly be fatigued from their win over Bordeaux but have the opportunity to utilise their impressive squad depth here - particularly in midfield - so an away win is the only outcome that we can see.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Monaco vs. Nice (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
© Reuters
Monaco will be aiming to win their sixth game on the bounce in Ligue 1 when they play host to Nice at the Stade Louis II on Wednesday evening.
Les Monegasques eked out a vital 2-1 win over Nantes on Sunday to keep pace with the title-chasing pack, whereas Nice's poor form continued with defeat to Saint-Etienne.
We say: Monaco 3-0 Nice
A meeting with Monaco in their current form would strike fear into the hearts of almost any team right now, and Nice are no exception. The visitors have performed much better on the road than on their own turf so far, but trying to get one over a blistering Monaco outfit will be a bridge too far for Ursea's men, so this should be a straightforward home win.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
PSG vs. Nimes (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
© Reuters
Paris Saint-Germain will be desperate to recover from their embarrassing defeat to lowly Lorient when they face off against another bottom-three side in Nimes on Wednesday evening.
Mauricio Pochettino's side lost 3-2 to Les Merlus in one of the shocks of the season at the weekend, while Nimes' dismal run continued with defeat to Angers.
We say: Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 Nimes
Lorient proved at the weekend that PSG's ravaged defence is certainly not impenetrable, and the losses of Neymar and Verratti will also have a profound impact on Pochettino's side. Stranger things have happened this season, but we do not expect the champions to suffer back-to-back upsets and are tipping the hosts to return to winning ways in dominant fashion over the league's basement team this week.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
St Etienne vs. Nantes (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
© Reuters
Saint-Etienne welcome Nantes to the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on Wednesday evening in what is shaping up to be a relegation six-pointer.
The hosts are just one place above Raymond Domenech's men coming into this, but their first victory in six games last time out means they have a four-point cushion over their upcoming opponents.
We say: Saint-Etienne 1-1 Nantes
Both of these sides struggle to score goals, and we expect it to be a tight, low-scoring affair given their attacking woes and with what is at stake. We fancy them to take home a share of the spoils in a result that neither will be too happy with.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Barney Corkhill
