Ligue 1 Matchday 33 Preview: Can Monaco retain their advantage over PSG at the top?

Angers-PSG

The first match of the 33rd fixture of Ligue 1 will have Angers host Paris Saint-Germain. Angers are looking to pick up three points at home against French giants. Angers have a 2-0-3 record in their last 5, as they hope to improve from last week’s result, in an expected 0-1 loss to Monaco. A positive to this is that they outplayed Monaco in many aspect of the game, but failed to put the ball in the net. Paris Saint-Germain, on the other hand, possess an impeccable 5-0-0 record. They are currently 2nd with 71 points, 3 behind Monaco. Angers are 12th with 39 points.

Nice-Nancy

The first match to be played on Saturday will see Nice battle Nancy at the Allianz Riviera. Nice come into the game unbeaten in their last 9 matches. The home side look to keep putting pressure to the Top 2 teams. Nice are 3rd with 70 points, just 1 from PSG and 4 from AS Monaco. Nancy, on the other hand, are at the extreme opposite. They are 17th with just 31 points. The only thing between them and relegation is the goal differential. They are 1-0-4 in their last 5, with their only win coming last weekend with a staggering 3-0 win at home against Rennes.

Metz-Caen

The following game will see Caen visit Metz at the Stade Saint Symphorien. Metz, with a game in hand, look to be in a somewhat comfortable position when speaking of the relegation battle. They are currently 15th, with 35 points, 4 away from 18th place Lorient. Direct rivals Caen will set to take points home to move away from their current position. Caen are 16th with 32, just 1 away from relegation. As you can see, the relegation battle is very competitive, and the smallest difference could mean staying in Ligue 1 or get relegated to Ligue 2. Metz possess a 1-2-2 record in their last 5, having lost their last two. Caen are winless in their last 5, with a record almost impossible to make worse; 0-1-4.

Guingamp-Toulouse

The next game will have EA Guingamp host Toulouse at the Municipal du Roudourou. The home side have managed an amazing 9 out of 11 wins at home (82%). They hold a 3-0-2 record in their last 5. Their last outing was an understandable loss against French giants PSG. EA Guingamp are 10th with 41 points. Toulouse, entering the game, account for the same 41 points, which locates them just 1 position above rivals. They sit 9th with 41 points. In their last 5, Toulouse hold a 1-3-1 record, as they are unbeaten in their last 3.

Rennes-Lille

Another match to be played on Saturday will include Rennes battling Lille for 3 points. The home side enters the game winless in their last 5, and having one only one game from their last 14. Due to their solid first half of the season, they sit 11th with 40 points. Rivals Lille contain a 2-1-2 record in their last 5, as they are 13th with 37 points. Lille have a good away record, as they hold the same amount of wins away than they have managed at home.

Montpellier-Lorient

The following game will have Montpellier battle in-form relegation side Lorient. The match will be played at the Stade de la Mosson, where Montpellier have managed 77% of their wins (7/9). They are 1-3-1 in their last 5, having won last weekend away at Caen, but losing the previous 3. Montpellier sit 14th with 36, just 5 above the away side. Lorient are 18th with 31 points. The away side have improved greatly in March and April. They hold a 3-0-2 record in their last 5, having managed 9 points in the last 3 matches. An illustration of their confidence can be showed in last match, where they were victorious away from home by a score of 1-4 against French giants Lyon

Monaco-Dijon

Coming from an incredible 2-3 win at Signal Iduna Park against Borussia Dortmund, Monaco host Dijon at the Stade Louis II, for the last game on Saturday. The home side have their confidence extremely elevated as they are leaders in Ligue 1 and just won at one of the most complicated grounds in Europe. Prodigy Kylian Mbappe Lottin scored a brace to impress the world at the most prestigious club competition. They hope to have Benjamin Mendy back, as he was out for the UCL meeting. Monaco have a 4-0-1 record in their last 5 games, with the only loss coming to PSG in the Coupe de Ligue Final. Monaco are leaders with 74 points, 3 clear of the Parisian side. Dijon hold a winless 0-2-3 record in their last 5. They are 19th with 29, and need to react quick if they want to stay in Ligue 1, an event that seems highly unlikely.

Nantes-Bordeaux

The first match on Sunday will be played between in-form Nantes and highly positioned Bordeaux, at the Stade de la Beaujoire. The home team are unbeaten in 4, holding a 2-2-1 record in their previous 5. They hold the 8th spot with 42 points. The away side possess a underperforming 2-0-3 record in their last 5. They are now 5th with 49 points. They passed Marseille over the weekend, with a home win over Metz by a score of 3-0.

SC Bastia-Lyon

The following match on Sunday will have last place SC Bastia face Lyon at the Stade Armand Cesari. Although they were victorious in their last outing, they are 20th in Ligue 1 with just 28 points in the league. They hold a 1-1-3 record in their last 5. Olympique Lyonnais, who played during the week at home against Besiktas, are expected to take the three points in this one. They are 4th with 54 points, reaching Europa League qualification. Lyon hold a horrible 1-1-3 form in their last 5, a number that a club like them will look to improve.

Marseille-Saint Etienne

The last match of the fixtures will be between Marseille and Saint-Etienne at the spectacular Stade Orange Velodrome. Marseille enter the game undefeated in their last 5, however the last 3 games have all been draws. Last weekend they lost 5th place to Bordeaux, and they will be looking to bounce back at home. Saint-Etienne, direct rivals, are one place beneath Marseille. They are 7th, with 45 points, 3 away from Marseille. The game will massively shape the battle for 5th spot.