Marseille vs. Metz (Sunday, 12.00pm)
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Marseille will seek to stretch their unbeaten run across all competitions to seven matches when they play host to Metz in Sunday's Ligue 1 clash.
Meanwhile, Les Grenats are still struggling to pull themselves out of their rut and sit second from bottom ahead of the trip to the Orange Velodrome.
We say: Marseille 2-0 Metz
The visit of Metz represents a prime opportunity for Sampaoli to show off his side's remarkable squad depth in the attacking areas and return to winning ways in convincing fashion.
European fatigue appears to have well and truly set in for the hosts, but Metz just cannot shut up shop this season and ought to be picked off by the hosts' bright frontline.
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Lorient vs. Brest (Sunday, 2.00pm)
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Brest will be looking to back up their maiden victory of the 2021-22 Ligue 1 campaign with another three points when they travel to face Lorient on Sunday afternoon.
A win could be enough to drag Brest out of the bottom three for the first time since late August, whilst Lorient are looking to distance themselves from an ever-growing relegation scrap.
We say: Lorient 1-1 Brest
These are the sort of fixtures that theoretically could define Brest's season come the end of the campaign, and taking points from them is crucial in their bid to survive.
History suggests their visits to face Lorient often end badly, with another winless trip the likely outcome in this one.
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Nantes vs. Strasbourg (Sunday, 2.00pm)
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Nantes and Strasbourg will each be looking to maintain their solid starts to the Ligue 1 campaign when they meet at Stade de la Beaujoire on Sunday afternoon.
The sides enter this contest level on 17 points after the first 12 rounds of matches in the French top flight, just two points off a European spot.
We say: Nantes 1-1 Strasbourg
Both sides can be more than happy with their starts to the 2021-22 campaign and will each consider this a good chance to climb further up the division.
Strasbourg have racked up big wins in two of their last three games, while Nantes have won three in a row on home soil, so we are expecting the sides to cancel each other out here.
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Reims vs. Monaco (Sunday, 2.00pm)
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Reims will look to drag themselves away from the Ligue 1 relegation zone when they welcome Monaco to the Stade Auguste Delaune on Sunday afternoon.
Just two points separate Reims from the bottom three, while Monaco have been unable to build on last season's third-place finish and currently sit 10th.
We say: Reims 1-2 Monaco
If Kovac and Monaco have any hopes of reaching the lofty heights that they achieved last season, they must start to pick up more wins in the games against sides below them.
Whether the Brest defeat was a blip or not remains to be seen, yet Reims have not demonstrated enough to suggest they will be able to stop Monaco this weekend.
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St Etienne vs. Clermont (Sunday, 2.00pm)
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Saint-Etienne go in search of their first Ligue 1 victory of the campaign as they welcome Clermont to Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts are on a club-record run without a victory and sit bottom of the division with 12 matches played, seven points behind Clermont in 15th place.
We say: Saint-Etienne 3-1 Clermont
Saint-Etienne are in desperate need of a victory if they are to avoid being cut adrift at the bottom and will see this as the perfect chance to get off the mark.
Clermont have made a positive start to the Ligue 1 season, but they have struggled for wins on their travels and have shipped too many, so we are backing a home win here.
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Nice vs. Montpellier (Sunday, 4.00pm)
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Nice play host to Montpellier HSC on Sunday afternoon looking to strengthen their position in second place in the Ligue 1 standings.
While the visitors begin the next batch of fixtures in 11th position, they currently sit just three points adrift of fifth-placed Rennes.
We say: Nice 2-1 Montpellier HSC
With Montpellier seemingly on an upward curve, this could be an interesting contest. Nevertheless, we cannot back against the home side, who we are backing to claim another victory by a narrow margin.
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Rennes vs. Lyon (Sunday, 7.45pm)
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Fifth meets sixth in Ligue 1 this weekend when Lyon will travel to Rennes on Sunday evening looking for a win to take them above their fellow-European chasing opponents.
Both sides have accumulated 19 points after 12 fixtures, with only Rennes superior goal difference keeping them above the seven-time French champions.
We say: Rennes 2-1 Lyon
Come the end of the season, there is every chance the pair could look at this fixture as one of the defining games, and failure to pick up three points could set either Rennes or Lyon back.
As the showpiece event on Sunday evening expect a feisty affair, with a single goal likely to sway the match.
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Barney Corkhill
