Ligue 1 Matchday 32 Preview: Monaco look to recover confidence at Angers as PSG entertain Guingamp
Lille-Nice
The first match of matchday 32 will be the entertaining Lille vs. Nice facing off in a crucial moment in 3rd place Nice’s season. They are 1 point behind PSG, with the Parisian side having a game more to play. The home team want to keep their 4 game unbeaten streak in Ligue 1. Lille played a Coupe de France match against Monaco on Tuesday, a fatigue that might dictate the tempo of their game.
Lille are 13th in Ligue 1, with 37 points. They currently sit comfortably enough to not worry about relegation but don’t aspire to be a European team, as they will next season when genius and ‘crazy’ Marcelo Bielsa will take over. Their form in their last games is a convincing 3-1-1. Nice, are 3rd with 67 points. They are 1 point behind Paris Saint-Germain and 4 points behind Monaco, with 1 game more. A win would put a little more pressure into the Top 2, although they are both likely to win this weekend. Nice are unbeaten in their last 5, with a 3-2-0 record in their last five.
Angers-Monaco
The first match to be played on Saturday will be Angers against leaders AS Monaco. The match, to be played at the Stade Raymond Kopa, will see Monaco battle to stay at the top of French football. Angers have won 3 in their last 5, but have lost the other 2. Most of their wins come at home, so they will be looking to complicate the leaders, and do PSG a favour. Monaco have won 4 of their last 5, with their loss coming this weekend in the Coupe de Ligue final against PSG. Angers are 12th in the league with 39 points, while Monaco are 1st with 71.
Caen-Montpellier
The second match on Saturday is Caen vs. Montpellier. The match will be played at the Stade Michel d’ Ornano, with Caen looking to improve their horrible form. A positive for the home side is the fact that 72% of their points come at home. Montpellier, like Caen, are undergoing one of the worst 2017’s of French football. They have 1 draw and 4 losses in their last 5. They have lost 14 games away from home, so their complication to win away will be a giant factor in the match. Caen are 16th with 32 points, just 4 away from relegation. Montpellier, one place ahead of Caen, are 15th with 35 points.
Dijon-SC Bastia
The next game sees Dijon battle last place Bastia. The relegation battle will be widely impacted by this match since Dijon is just one point away from relegation. Dijon tied their last match against Marseille, a point considered crucial in a match against a high-positioned team. They might be motivated enough to take the 3 points in this one. Both teams are desperate for points to not leave Ligue 1 at the end of the season.
Dijon have a 0-2-3 record in their last 5. They are 17th with 29 points. Bastia are 20th with just 25. They possess the same 0-2-3 record as Dijon.
Lyon-Lorient
The next match of the 32nd fixture is French giants Lyon taking on in-form relegation side Lorient. Lyon sit a comfortable 7 points clear in their Europa League battle, while Lorient are in need of points. Lorient come from defeating Nancy and Caen, so they have much momentum at the moment. Will that be enough to defeat Lyon? We will see, however, the game might be way more competitive than it looks on paper. Lyon are 4th with 54 points, while Lorient are 19th with 28 points. Lyon have an irregular 2-1-2 record in their last 5, while Lorient have a 2-0-3 record, however having won the last two.
Bordeaux-Metz
The next game has Bordeaux hosting Metz, as the top table home side set to battle mid-table Metz. Bordeaux are undergoing an irregular season, however, not being able to put in quality performances every weekend. They sit comfortably at 6th, with 46 points. Their form, however, points in a different direction, with a horrible 1-1-3 record in their last 5. Metz hold the same 1-1-3 record in their last 5, a record more relevant to their season. They are 14th in Ligue 1 with 35 points.
Nancy-Rennes
The last match on Saturday sees Nancy combat Rennes. The home side are in the relegation zone and need to add points to save their season. Nancy has been going through some tough times as a club, with the supporters divided with the team’s situation. They are 18th in Ligue 1, with just 28 points through 31 outings. They are the least offensive side in the league, with just 21 goals scored throughout the campaign. Rivals Rennes are 11th in the league, with 40 points. They hold a 1-4-0 record in their last 5 games. They have drawn 13 times in the season, so it’s safe to say that their form reflects their season. Home side Nancy hold a terrible 0-1-4 form, having lost their last 4.
Toulouse-Marseille
Perhaps one of the most entertaining matchups this weekend, Toulouse face Marseille at the Stade Municipal. The home side have an astonishing 80% wins coming at home this year. Marseille, on the other hand, have lost 80% of their games away from home. Toulouse are looking to maintain their 10th position, while Marseille are hoping to battle Lyon for a Europa League spot, even though the possibilities are minuscule. Toulouse have a 1-3-1 form in their last 5. The club’s top goal scorer Martin Braithwaite will look to add to his scoring tally. Marseille, on the other hand, are 5th with 47 points. They hold a 2-2-1 record in their last 5, being unbeaten in their last 4.
Saint-Etienne-Nantes
The second match on Sunday will be played between Saint-Etienne and Nantes at the Stade Geoffroy Guinchard. The green side battle will to maintain their 7th place at home, where the majority of their wins have come. The visitors are enjoying improved football shown in the first half of the season, standing at 9th place with 41 points. Meanwhile, the home side are enjoying 3 more points in the campaign, with 44. Nantes are 2-2-1 in their last 5 matches, with the only defeat coming against leaders Monaco. Saint-Etienne have only won 1 of their last 5, holding a 1-2-2 record, however winning last weekend against Dijon, 0-1 away from home.
Paris Saint-Germain-Guingamp
French giants Paris Saint-Germain host EA Guingamp as they hope to maintain their dreams of winning Ligue 1 alive. The home side are enjoying quality football after being knocked out of the Champions League by FC Barcelona, however, they are second behind Monaco. PSG are 3 points behind the league leaders, with 68 points across 30 matches played. EA Guingamp, performing a solid year, are 8th with 41 points in the league. They have a positive 3-1-1 record in their last 5, having won their last 2. PSG have won 4 out of their last 5, with the only loss coming against Barcelona in the Champions League by a staggering 6-1 score. (6-5 agg.) Paris Saint-Germain look to put pressure on Monaco, who visit Angers.