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Paris Saint-Germain vs Clermont Foot: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Paris Saint-Germain will wrap up the 2022/23 Ligue 1 season this weekend when they host Clermont Foot at Parc des Princes on Saturday.

The hosts sealed the title last weekend despite being held to a 1-1 draw with Strasbourg away from home.

As such, head coach Christophe Galtier is still likely to lose his job at the end of this season, with PSG chiefs considering him not fit enough to lead the team to the glorious destiny they seek.

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But the French coach claimed publicly after their last game that he “deserves a second season.” Therefore he will be looking to sign off this season on a high note.

However, his side have been erratic at home this season, though, and have lost three of their last five games here, although it would be a huge surprise if they can’t produce the goods to give departing Lionel Messi the send-off he deserves.

Meanwhile, Clermont Foot will head to Paris in a buoyant mood after a 2-0 victory over Lorient last weekend secured a top-half finish in Ligue 1 for the first time.

Such a remarkable season has led to their coach Pascal Gastien being nominated for the Manager of the Year award in France. The Frenchman has admitted it has been a season to “savour”, stating he is “proud of the work accomplished.” 

He will now be hoping to sign off for this season on a high as Clermont looks to extend a stunning finish to the campaign, which has seen them register seven wins in nine outings (D1, L1).

However, the visitors have lost their last three league H2Hs, conceding at least four goals on each occasion. 

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Auxerre vs Lens: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Lens will look to end their Ligue 1 season on a high when they travel to Stade de l’Abbé-Deschamps to face a relegation-threatened Auxerre side.

The hosts boosted their chances of playing top-flight football last time with a 1-1 draw with Toulouse. The draw lifted them two points above the bottom four.

However, their inferior goal difference means they must match or better Nantes’ final-day result to avoid being relegated to Ligue 2.

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However, they come into this game in poor shape, having not won any of their last six league games (D3, L3). Therefore, victory will be their target as it’s the only way to guarantee no immediate return to Ligue 2 regardless of results elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Lens will look to end a successful season on a high note when they take on Auxerre.

The visitors have been Ligue 1’s surprise side this season, with the 81 points they have gathered this season only bettered by  Ligue 1 winner PSG (85) ahead of this final round.

Although their unexpected title challenge finally ended last week, they come into this tie on the back of six consecutive Ligue 1 victories. 

Meanwhile, their 3-0 dismantling of Ajaccio guaranteed second place and UEFA Champions League football for the first time since 2002/03. That marks a stunning rise for Franck Haise’s side, who were in Ligue 2 alongside Auxerre as recently as 2019/20.

Although Lens now have nothing to play for in this round, they’ll want to produce one more impressive performance to close out the season in style, looking to record three straight top-flight away wins for the first time since September 2021. 

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Strasbourg vs PSG: Preview and Expert Football Prediction 

Paris Saint-Germain will look to become Ligue 1 champions for the second year in a row when they travel to Stade de la Meinau to face Strasbourg.

The hosts come into this fixture looking to secure their top-flight status for another season. A 1-1 draw with Troyes last weekend put them on the verge of doing so, as all they need is a point from this game to ensure they won’t be relegated.

However, even if they lose and Nantes fails to secure three points against Lille, Le Racing will still avoid relegation. Therefore Frédéric Antonetti’s side enter this match without too much pressure.

But considering their strong home form of late (W5, L2), and their balanced record in the previous eights league H2Hs held here (W2, D4, L2), they could turn this final outing of the season at Stade de la Meinau into a great celebration.

But Paris Saint-Germain isn’t going to roll over here as this game should secure their historic eleventh Ligue 1 title.

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Christophe Galtier’s side come into this round of games sitting six points at the top of the table. So all they need is to avoid defeat here, and they will mathematically win the title.

Should they achieve that, Galtier would go down in Ligue 1 history as the first manager to keep his team at the top of the standings from the first to the last matchday of the season.

His side looks well primed to win here as a 2-1 win over Auxerre last time extended Les Perisian’s flawless record against current bottom-six teams (W11).

The last five H2Hs have all witnessed the opening goal scored within the first 20 minutes. So we predict a first-half goal in this game.

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Lyon vs Monaco: Preview and Expert Football Prediction 

Ligue 1 returns this Friday when Olympique Lyonnais hosts Monaco in the 36th Round of the 2022/23 Ligue 1 season.

The hosts are looking to get back to winning ways after beginning life under new owner John Textor with a disappointing 2-1 loss to Clermont Foot in their last outing. 

The new American investor owner wants his club to become a regular in the Champions League. But that might not be possible this season, given that his side currently sits four points behind the top five with just three games and nine points left to play.

However, they can at least narrow the gap between them and the top teams with fourth-placed Monaco, who are currently nine points above them, a good place to begin. 

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Given their rock-solid competitive home form since February, Les Olympians will fancy their chances here (W5, D3, L1). Furthermore, winning three of their five home league games against sides beginning the round above them (W3, L2) will also give them huge confidence.

Meanwhile, Monaco has bigger fish to fry, as they can secure a top-four spot here if they win. A top-four finish would at least guarantee them Europa League, given that Champions League football is looking unlikely, as they are eight points behind third-placed Marseille.

Despite this, a win here could be enough to secure a top-four berth with two games to go depending on results elsewhere, given that Marseille will play fifth-placed Lille this weekend.

But to achieve this, the visitors must improve their patchy recent away form (W2, D2, L1). A win will be new territory, though, given that Monaco are winless in their last four away games to top-seven sides (D2, L2).

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Lens vs Marseille

Lens vs Marseille: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Ligue 1 resumes this Saturday with second and third-placed sides Marseille and Lens battling for a place behind Paris Saint-Germain.

The hosts come into this tie sitting in third position, six points behind the Parisians. However, manager Franck Haise admitted his side made a “big push for the podium” after their 1-0 against Coupe de France winners Toulouse on Tuesday.

That win was their sixth victory in seven Ligue 1 outings (L1) and extended their lead over fourth-placed Monaco to eight points with just five games remaining. They now battle it out here with another candidate for a UEFA Champions League placing in the shape of Marseille in what appears to be a crucial “six-pointer”, knowing that a win would take them above their opponents into the second spot.

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Fans, therefore, may be dreaming of a first top-two finish in Ligue 1 since 2001/02, and the visit of Marseille should be good to weigh their progress after failing to win any of the previous four head-to-head meetings at Stade Bollaert-Delelis (D1, L3). 

Their home form could continue to be vital to stopping that run, considering they sit top of the Ligue 1 home standings (W14, D1, L1). 

Meanwhile, Marseille will look to narrow the gap between them and Paris Saint-Germain, albeit temporarily, when they travel to Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Saturday.

The Olympians trail PSG by five points ahead of this round and could reduce the gap if they take maximum points here. They were on the cusp of suffering their first league loss in over two months last weekend, but two late strikes saved them from an embarrassing defeat against relegation-battling Auxerre (2-1).

Igor Tudor’s men have showcased their ability to recover from poor starts, with their win against Auxerre contributing to the division’s best average point return (1.5) after conceding first this campaign (W5, D3, L4). That speaks volumes of the character within the group, and their impressive away form this campaign (W12, D3, L1) could be key to avoid suffering a first losing league double against Lens in over 20 years.

Meanwhile, Lens’ Brice Samba has registered more clean sheets (14) in Ligue 1 this season than any other goalkeeper. So we can expect a tight affair here, with under 2.5 goals highly likely.

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Angers vs Paris Saint-Germain: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain will look to extend their lead at the top of the league table when they travel to Stade Raymond-Kopa on Friday to face bottom-of-the-table Angers.

The hosts have had a miserable season, with just three wins in 31 games (D5, L23). The 14 points they have won this season are only better than Elche in La Liga, who have won just 13 points after 29 games.

So mathematically, Angers are the worst team in Europe’s top five leagues this season. Meanwhile, they could be mathematically relegated to Ligue 2 if they lose this game, proving again how poor they have been this season.

Doing whatever it takes to help their team, last weekend, some SCO fans even tried to distract then-opponents Clermont by showing their backside during the two penalties that their team conceded, but it didn’t work as Angers eventually lost 2-1 to remain rock-bottom.

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Coach Alexandre Dujeux lamented his players’ “lack of sharpness” during that defeat on Sunday after his team scored first within 30 minutes and even played the whole second half with eleven men against ten. Nevertheless, a return to the Stade Raymond-Kopa will be welcome for Angers, who have taken points in their last two home outings (W1, D1), and their recent 1-0 win against in-form Lille shows that a positive result isn’t impossible.

Paris Saint-Germain extended their lead at the top of the league table thanks to a 3-1 win over closest challengers Lens last time out.

The win ended a return of two consecutive home losses for the Parisians and relieved some pressure off head coach Christopher Galtier.

The French coach stated that his men shouldn’t believe that “it (the title) is already done” after his side opened an eight-point lead at the top. But it seems nigh on impossible that PSG will be denied a record 11th French title considering they will only face teams currently ranked tenth or below until the end of the season. 

They travel to this venue in confidence, too, having won their last six visits to Angers, while their last H2H loss here dates back to January 1975.

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Paris Saint-Germain vs Lens: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

It’s first versus second in Ligue 1 this Saturday when Paris Saint-Germain welcomes Lens to Parc des Princes for the 31st Round of the 2022/23 Ligue 1 season.

Both sides are separated by six points after 30 games, with PSG sitting top thanks to 22 wins (D3, L5). They could extend that gap this Saturday when they welcome Lens. However, considering the French juggernauts haven’t won any of the last three Ligue 1 H2Hs (D2, L1), they could be left sitting uncomfortably on Saturday night.

Also, losing their last two home league games without as much as scoring a goal hasn’t helped PSG’s title bid, and considering they lost the reverse H2H 3-1, that home run could yet get worse. 

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But all isn’t doom and gloom for the Parisians, though, as a 35-match unbeaten home league run preceded that duo of defeats (W30, D5). So they could be backed to get back their groove in this game.

Lens will be hoping to capitalise upon any home jitters knowing a victory would cut PSG’s lead to three points as they eye up a first top-flight title since 1997/98. 

Unlike their title rivals, Lens make the trip to Paris in red-hot form on the back of four successive league victories, leaving them on the brink of matching their best consecutive run of wins this season, set from October-November.

That eye-catching run has played a part in Lens racking up 63 points after 30 rounds, their best tally in any Ligue 1 season. 

Their success has largely been built on solidity in the first half before chasing the game after the break, with no team in Ligue 1 trailing at half-time in fewer games this season than Lens’ two. At the same time, their league-low nine league goals conceded in the opening 45 minutes this term showcases their defensive resilience.

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Lorient vs Marseille: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Marseille will travel to Stade du Moustoir this Sunday, hoping to keep their quest for an unlikely Ligue 1 title alive against Lorient.

The hosts are looking to regain the momentum they gathered just before the international break, having suffered a 3-1 defeat and a red card against Lille in their last outing.

That wasn’t the ideal start for Régis Le Bris’ men after his contract extension until 2027. However, the loss will unlikely dampen the mood as this remains Lorient’s best-ever points return after 29 Ligue 1 rounds (44).

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That point haul has eclipsed their 43-point haul from the 2012/13 season when finishing in eighth, yet with an eight-point gap to the top-five ahead of the round, European qualification may be a bridge too far. Regardless they will give it a shot and will be buoyed by a return home as Lorient are unbeaten in all but one home league game since the turn of the year (W3, D2, L1).

But games against Marseille don’t always go in the way of the hosts, who have lost their seven clashes against Marseille. The visitors enter this round of games just six points behind league leaders, PSG, following a four-game unbeaten run of league games (W2, D2). 

Igor Tudor’s men don’t have a problem playing away from home, as they are on the longest current winning streak of away league games across the top five European divisions (W8). Moreover, the visitors scored at least twice in seven of those victories, whilst four of the last six came without reply, a compelling stat indeed for a side that haven’t lost away to Lorient in over a decade (W5, D2).

That said, an under 2.5 goals bet will be the best prediction for this game.

Nice vs PSG: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Ligue 1 holders Paris Saint-Germain will travel to Allianz Riviera this Saturday to face European hopefuls Nice in the 30th round of the 2022/23 Ligue 1 season. 

The hosts’ quest to break into the European spots this season have been slow, yet steady with 45 points so far, taking them to eighth position, five points behind Lille in fifth position. 

However, a 1-1 draw with Angers last time threatens to undo their patient work as it means they are winless in their last four league games (D4). But it also means that they come into this tie on a 14-game unbeaten run in all competitions (W8, they D6),  the second-longest in the club’s history, inching them ever closer to the club record of 16 games set back in 1984.  

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While they remain unbeaten in that time, they could miss out on the European spots unless they can produce a remarkable turnaround in Ligue 1’s final nine games. However, given that they have been unbeaten in home league action since September and won this fixture against league leaders PSG last season, they may have some belief they can open up the title race, for other teams at least. 

Meanwhile, PSG come into this tie in terrible form, having lost their last two league games. As a result, pressure is mounting on coach Christophe Galtier, who incidentally was Nice coach last season. 

The French man will know that his former side will not want to do him favours as they will also be keen on taking maximum points. He hasn’t overseen a victory in a personal away H2H against Nice since November 2013 (D3, L4), casting doubt on whether PSG can avoid a third-straight Ligue 1 defeat for the first time since 2010.

Nevertheless, the Parisians travel to the Southeastern coast of France holding a healthy six-point lead atop Ligue 1 ahead of the round. The Ligue 1 title is their last shot to glory this season, having already been knocked out of the Champions League and Coupe de France. They can’t afford to let the Ligue 1 title slip too.

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Marseille vs Montpellier: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

After a two-week hiatus, the French Ligue 1 returns this weekend with second-placed Marseille taking on Montpellier at the Stade Vélodrome on Friday.

Marseille were building momentum before the international break with a run of three games without defeat (W2, D1), including wins over top-four hopefuls Reims and Rennes. 

The hosts are the closest challengers of perennial winners Paris Saint-Germain, having secured 18 wins this season (D5, L5), with their points tally just seven behind Lionel Messi’s side. A win here would close the gap on leaders PSG to four points as the season nears its climax. 

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They will fancy their chances of getting a result here after ending Reims’ remarkable unbeaten run with a 2-1 win last time. But if they’re to manage that and apply some pressure on PSG, they’ll also have to end their four-match winless run in home league action (D2, L2), including most recently squandering a 2-0 lead at the 85th-minute mark to draw 2-2 with Strasbourg. 

But considering that Les Olympiens haven’t conceded more than once in a home H2H since December 2015 (W6, D3), they’ll expect to hold firm if they find themselves in a similar position again.

Meanwhile, Montpellier come into this tie in formidable form as they are unbeaten in six league fixtures (W5, D1). Like Marseille, the visitors were building steam just before the international break. As a result, they were able to push themselves away from the relegation zone into the eleventh position, thanks to three straight league wins.

The goal will now be for them to kick on from there and crack the top six places. However, they sit 13 points behind Lille in sixth position, with ten games to play. The possibility of a top-six finish looks slim unless they can continue to win and pick up their fourth consecutive win in this game.

But given that they’ve only beaten one side currently sitting in the top half this term (D2, L9), it will be a significant result if they win here. However, that sole win did come away from home (2-0 v Lorient), and having secured four wins ‘to nil’ across their last six Ligue 1 road fixtures (L2), Montpellier will hope they can resume their campaign in a similar vein of form.

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