Lille will be fighting to reclaim their European spot after losing it by finishing 11th last season, while Marseille and Bordeaux will look to tighten their grip on well-earned Europa League spots, with Nantes trying to sneak into the coveted top spots after a 7th place finish last season. At the other end of the table, Angers and Dijon will both be vying for survival in Ligue 1.
Lille vs. Nantes
3-Way: 1: Lille +129; X: +220 Draw; 2: Nantes +300
Spread -0.5: Lille +129; Nantes -132
Total +2: Over -110; Under +106
Lille
A thoroughly disappointing season left Lille in 11th place, 13 points off the coveted European spots and just 10 points off of relegation. One reason could be a loss of their star talent in the previous season as Sofiane Boufal who joined Southampton and Djibril Sidibé who was departed for Monaco.
Saying that, Lille had a good season if you remove all their games from between 10th September to 18th November, when their form turned ugly as they lost eight of ten games.
Lille had a positive pre-season, losing and drawing just once while winning three, including an enthralling 4-2 victory over French rivals Rennes.
This summer has seen an influx of young talent, as Les Dogues search of a star who can take them to the next level continued. Further to this, all signings this summer have been aged 25 or under. Some examples of these signings include 20-year-old midfielder Thiago Maia from Santos, 21-year-old winger Luiz Araujo from Sao Paulo and 22-year-old Nicolas Pepe from SCO Angers. Notable departures include defensive-midfielder Soualiho Meite to Zulte Waregem and wing-back Sebastien Corchia to Sevilla.
Manager Marcelo Bielsa will be missing defender Adama Soumaoro after he ruptured his Achilles tendon, but will otherwise have a full squad selection for Sunday`s game.
Nantes
Nantes will have been ecstatic and enthused by their 7th place finish in the Ligue 1 last season, a remarkable improvement on their 14th place finish the season before. The eight times Ligue 1 winners will keep their heads forward and dream of placing themselves in a European spot, and with the Premier-league winner Claudio Ranieri at the helm, Nantes will certainly believe it to be possible. Over the summer, Nantes suffered from a poor pre-season, with one win, two losses and two draws.
Nantes has kept together most of the team of their successful last season, although they did lose young attacking midfielder Amine Harit to FC Schalke 04. Furthermore, Nantes has been quiet on the signings front, with goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu and centre-back Nicolas Pallois looking like the only team additions.
Manager Claudio Ranieri will be without Kolbeinn Sigthorsson (Meniscus tear) and Kayembe (Cruciate Ligament Rupture) through injury.
Lille vs. Nantes – MATCH PREDICTION
Lille’s new boys may take their time to settle, while Nantes will be playing a new style under Ranieri, which may take time to bed-in. Both teams are similar in quality and I believe will cancel each other out in a draw.
MY PICK: Draw (+220)
Angers vs. Bordeaux
3-Way: 1: Angers +170; X: +220 Draw; 2: Bordeaux +220
Spread 0: Angers -119; Bordeaux +114
Total +2: Over -114; Under +106
Angers
An honorable 12th place finish for Angers will have satisfied the fans modest ambitions. However, the main story of Angers was their valiant run in the Coupe de France in which they dispatched Bordeaux in the Quarter Final and Guingamp in the Semis on their way to the final. Unfortunately, the road to victory was tragically cut-short as Issa Cissokho scored a last minute own goal to make it 1:0. After the season ended, Angers had a productive pre-season, winning three, drawing one and losing one.
Over the summer, Angers lost some of their attacking force by selling winger Nicolas Pepe to Lille and forward Famara Diédhiou to Bristol City. To replace the lost goals, Angers have recruited Enzo Crivelli from Bordeaux who scored ten goals in Ligue 1 last season.
Manager Stéphane Moulin will have a full squad selection for Saturday`s game.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux improved greatly from their 2015-16 Ligue 1 campaign, when they finished 11th, to a highly sought after 6th place finish, meaning qualification for the qualifying rounds of the Europa League. Valentin Vada is the one to watch for as 21-year-old Argentinean midfielder put in some impressive performances over the season, scoring six in 28 appearances. Over the Summer, Bordeaux had an excellent pre-season, winning four friendlies and beating Videoton in the 1st leg of their third qualifying round.
Veteran keeper Cedric Carrasco was excellent last season as he made 9 clean sheets in 24 appearances, however he has left the team but has been wisely replaced by Benoit Costil. Other mention-worthy transfers include the right-back Youssouf Sabaly joining from PSG and central-midfielder Lukas Lerager arriving from Zulte Waregem, while Bordeaux made some notable forward line losses in Adam Ounas and Jérémy Ménez.
Manager Jocelyn Gourvennec will have a full squad ready to play.
Angers vs. Bordeaux – MATCH PREDICTION
While Angers is a decent side, Bordeaux is a better side and if it weren’t for it being the first game of the season I would go for a Bordeaux win. As it is, Bordeaux may take a while to find their scoring feet as much of their attacking line-up has changed.
I would expect a cagier affair, but overall a draw in a low scoring game.
MY PICK: Draw (+220)
Additional Pick: Under 2 goals (+106)
Marseille vs. Dijon
3-Way: 1: Marseille -222; X: +409 Draw; 2: Dijon +860
Spread -1.5: Marseille +116; Dijon -118
Total +2.5: Over -141; Under +133
Marseille
After a poor 13th place finish in their 2015-16 season Ligue 1 campaign, Marseille will have been overjoyed to throw themselves back into the European mix as they finished eight places higher in 5th. Les Olympiens will take further confidence from their league form in the tail-end of the campaign as they went unbeaten in eleven games.
Marseille’s rise in places was contributed to by some outstanding personal performances, including Bafétimbi Gomis, who ended the season with 20 goals, and the revived Florian Thauvin who registered 15 goals and 8 assists, a remarkable improvement on his Newcastle days. Marseille’s scintillating form continued into pre-season as they won five and drew one.
Marseille has possibly had the best transfer window of all Ligue 1 sides. Firstly they retained Florian Thauvin by making his loan a permanent deal, and added more attacking force through the acquisitions of forwards Valere Germain from Monaco and Clinton N’Jie for Tottenham Hotspur. Additionally, they added steel to their defense, with keeper Steve Mandanda making a return to Marseille, experienced centre-back Adil Rami and defensive-midfielder Luiz Gustavo. Marseille’s biggest loss will be having to send Bafétimbi Gomis back to Swansea as he only arrived on loan.
Manager Rudi Garcia will have a full squad selection for Sunday’s game.
Dijon
Dijon were lucky to retain their Ligue 1 status after finishing just a point above the relegation drop, but will still be glad to stay for at least another season after only recently getting promoted in the 2015-16 season. The Mustards season was salvaged by their late burst of form, winning 8 points from their last five games to survive the threat of relegation. Over the summer break, Dijon had a mediocre pre-season, winning twice, drawing once and losing twice, including a 4:0 home defeat to Saint-Etienne.
Dijon face a tough season as they lost two of their best performers in Lois Diony, who was their top scorer last season netting 11 goals and making 8 assists, and Pierre Lees Melou. To address this goal crisis, Dijon has signed winger Wesley Said from Rennes and Benjamin Jeannot from FC Lorient, although it may prove difficult for these players to make up the goal numbers alone. Another notable addition is centre-back Wesley Lautoa in a 1.5 million Euro deal from FC Lorient.
Manager Olivier Dall’Oglio will have a full squad roster for Sunday’s games.
Marseille vs. Dijon – MATCH PREDICTION
I have nothing but positive things to say regarding Marseille this season; their team looks prepared for a Champions League spot challenge. Dijon on the other hand has lost attacking power and has a defense susceptible to leaking goals.
I would recommend betting on Marseille to win by at least 2 goals.
MY PICK: Marseille AH -1.5 (+116)
