St. Etienne will be fighting to reclaim their European spot after losing it by finishing 8th last season, while Nice will look to tighten their grip on a well-earned champions league spot. At the other end of the table, Caen, Montpellier and Troyes will all be vying for survival in Ligue 1, while Rennes will be satisfied with another mid-table finish.
Montpellier vs. Caen
3-Way: 1: Montpellier -105; X: +260 Draw; 2: Caen +380
Spread -0.5: Montpellier -105; Caen +104
Total +2.5: Over +112; Under -122
Montpellier
Montpellier left their last Ligue 1 campaign wondering how they slipped into a relegation battle and finished with a point total of 39, 10 less than in the 2015-16 season. Incidentally, the reason for their rapid descent was losing all five of their last five games, and eight of their last ten.
Considering that Montpellier had some of Ligue 1 top performers including ball-winning midfielder Ellyes Skhiri, who made a mammoth 102 interceptions last season, and Ryad Boudebouz who manufactured 117 chances, a 15th place finish should have been beneath them. Unfortunately for the 2011-12 Ligue 1 champions, terrible defending meant that they conceded 66 goals over the season, the third worst record of the league.
To address their defensive issues, Montpellier has signed centre-back Pedro Mendes from Stade Rennais and goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte from FC Lorient who will help stop the goal-leakage. Furthermore, they signed striker Giovanni Sio also from Stade Rennais to replace the loss of top goal scorer Steve Mounié to Huddersfield for a fee of €13 million.
Manager Michel Der Zakarian will have a full squad selection for Saturday`s game.
Caen
Caen can count themselves lucky after avoiding relegation by a solitary point, and with a goal-difference of -29 and 21 losses; each record was the 2nd worst in the league. Furthermore, Caen were another side who ended their Ligue 1 campaign in disastrous fashion, gaining just six points from their last eleven games, heroically drawing 1:1 against PSG at Parc des Princes on the last day of the season, a rare football-phenomenon which will live long in the Caen fans memory.
Moreover, the goal that kept them up was sensationally scored in the 91st minute by Ronny Rodelin and dramatic scenes ensued. Caen have had an average pre-season winning two, drawing one and losing twice.
After just scoring 36 goals, Caen’s squad are crying out for more attacking-power, but they have failed to add a single attacker to their squad. Notable transfers include right-back Frédéric Guilbert from Bordeaux, central-midfielder Stef Peeters from Sint-Truiden and centre-back Alexander Djiku from SC Bastia.
Patrice Garande will have a full squad selection.
Montpellier vs. Caen – MATCH PREDICTION
While Caen has only got worse in quality, I fancy Montpellier to improve on their 2016-17 campaign as they have retained their best performers and strengthened their defense. I would expect Montpellier to make a good start and comfortably dispatch Caen.
MY PICK: Montpellier to win (-105)
St. Etienne vs. Nice
3-Way: 1: St. Etienne +138; X: +225 Draw; 2: Nice +275
Spread -0.5: St. Etienne +131; Nice -141
Total +2.5: Over +145; Under -154
St. Etienne
St. Etienne finished in a creditable 8th place but will be dissatisfied that they gave up their European spot from the 2015-16 season. Captain and centre-back Loic Perrin was in a great form last season as he helped his side concede just 42 goals, saying that Les Verts primary issue was their lack of goals scored, just 41, and their top goal-scorer Romain Hamouma only found the net 7 times in Ligue 1.
An average pre-season saw Saint Etienne win twice, draw once and lose twice, although last Saturday’s 3:0 home loss to Southampton will not give Oscar Garcia’s side much confidence going into the new season.
Over the summer, St. Etienne has addressed their lack of goals through the signing of Lois Diony, who scored 10 times for Dijon FCO last season, for 10 million Euros. Other notable transfers include the signing of defensive-midfielder Assae Dioussé from FC Empoli and the sale of right-back Kévin Malcuit to LOSC Lille for 9 million Euros.
Manager Lucien Favre will have a full squad selection for Saturday`s game.
Nice
An excellent Ligue 1 campaign saw Nice qualify for the Champions League qualifying round after finishing in 3rd place last season. Nice’s positive season was in part due to their consistency, never losing two league games in row until the last three games of the season when they lost twice in a row to Marseille and Angers and drew 3:3 to Lyon on the last day of the season.
Moreover, Nice had top performers in their team as the erratic Balotelli ended the season with 15 goals and Jean Michel Seri’s performances drew the eyes of potential suitors across Europe. Furthermore, Les Aiglons, or The Eagles in English, lived up to their name as early birds, scoring 14 times within the first 15 minutes of a match. During pre-season, Nice took one step closer to the Champions League group stage after edging past tricky customers Ajax on away goals (3;3 on aggregate). Additionally, they won four out five of their pre-season friendlies.
No major transfers have happened so far for Nice over the summer, although holding onto Jean Michel Seri may be their coup of the summer as he is continuously linked with a move away to the likes of Arsenal. The most notable incomings have been 19-year-old central-midfielder Jean-Victor Makengo from SM Caen and attacking-midfielder Pierre Lees Melou from Dijon.
Antoine Kombouaré will be missing Wylian Cyprien through a cruciate ligament rupture while Balotelli injured his leg.
St. Etienne vs. Nice – MATCH PREDICTION
St. Etienne’s lack of goals may still be visible as the season starts while new striker Lois Diony takes time to settle in, on the other hand Nice have kept all their star players, but will have to start their season without Balotelli. Without any great finishers on either side I could see a low scoring game, but Nice will be the more confident of the two and consequently I could see them ease past their opponents.
I would place my bets on Nice winning in a low-scoring game.
MY PICK: Nice to win(+275)
Additional Pick: Under 2.5 goals (-154)
Troyes vs. Rennes
3-Way: 1: Troyes +183; X: +220 Draw; 2: Rennes+195
Spread 0: Troyes -105; Rennes +104
Total +2.5: Over +138; Under -149
Troyes
In their last visit of Ligue 1, Troyes finished in last place, only accumulating 18 points. Now they are back after just a season in the second tier of French football where they finished third, and got promoted through a play-off round against Lorient. For the coming season Troyes will look to their star-striker Adama Niane to continue his excellent goal-scoring form after he netted 23 league goals during their 2016-17 league campaign.
Over the summer Troyes has made little major transfer activity, with the most notable acquisition being defensive-midfielder François Bellugou from FC Lorient. Despite a lack of quality transfer activity, Troyes has had a good pre-season with one loss, one draw and three wins, including a 2:1 victory over Amiens SC.
Manager Jean-Louis Garcia will have a full squad selection for Saturday`s game.
Rennes
Rennes is rarely a side who finishes anywhere other than the mid-table, and last-season they continued that trend by finishing at the reputable 9th position. That’s not to say they weren’t capable of better, typified by their form midway through the season, for example between December and March of last season, Les Rouges et Noirs won just twice in thirteen games. Coming up to the new season, Rennes won three of their summer friendlies while they lost two.
Rennes has signed two left wingers over the window, Ismaila Sarr from FC Metz and Faitout Maouassa from Nancy, while selling two left wingers, Adama Diakhaby to Monaco and Wesley Said to Dijon. Other notable sales include centre-back Pedro Mendes to Montpellier and experienced goalkeeper Benoit Costil moving to Bordeaux on a free transfer.
Manager Christian Gourcuff will be missing Ludovic Baal through a red card suspension, but will otherwise have a full squad.
Troyes vs. Rennes – MATCH PREDICTION
It is difficult to see what Troyes has in their locker that could keep them afloat this season. Rennes will be of similar quality as last year and I expect them to be hostile guests at Troyes welcoming party. I would bet on a Rennes win and one of the teams not to score.
MY PICK: Rennes to win (+195)
Additional Pick: Both teams to score NO (-108)
