Following an exciting fourth round of Ligue 1 fixtures, and then the international break, teams will come back refreshed and raring to go in their plight for domestic success. Furthermore, we have also seen the end of the transfer window with plenty of late transfer activity before the window shut, so we will get to see many players in action for the first time in what should be an interesting weekend of football.
This Sunday will see Saint Etienne, who lost to a superior PSG side in their last fixture, host Angers, who are still undefeated after their 1:1 draw to Lille, and Lyon, who recently took part in a dull draw with Nantes, who will play Guingamp, who flattered to deceive as they defeated Strasbourg 2:0 in their last game.
Why not take a look at our season preview for an in-depth analysis of Ligue 1’s summer activity?
Saint Etienne vs. Angers
3-Way: 1: Saint Etienne +125; X: +227 Draw; 2: Angers +315
Spread -0.5: Saint Etienne +127; Angers -127
Total +2: Over -106; Under +102
Saint Etienne
Saint Etienne were dealt their first loss of the Ligue 1 season in their last fixture, but will not be too concerned after coming up against a superior side in Paris Saint-Germain. The day started poorly for the away side, with St-Etienne defender Saidy Janko’s clumsy challenge on Edinson Cavani resulting in a penalty, which Cavani put away efficiently. In spite of the poor start, St-Etienne forged a couple of great chances through quick breaks with pacey forward Jonathan Bamba on the end of both chances, but was denied by sound goalkeeping on each occasion. A well-worked set-piece and a deft backheel made it 3:0 for Paris Saint-Germain, meaning game-over and sixteen games without a win against PSG for St-Etienne.
Despite an ugly looking score-line, St-Etienne made a decent showing of themselves overall and were unlucky not to at least score. PSG’s match-winning talent was the only thing that separated the two sides, so Saint-Etienne can take positives from the result and take it into future games where they have some very winnable fixtures coming up. Furthermore, through winning their first three games, they are placed in a very respectable 3rd position in Ligue 1.
There were some transfer developments for Saint Etienne, with attacking midfielder Rémy Cabella joining on loan from Marseille, who made his debut against PSG, and winger Oussama Tannane and forward Robert Beric leaving on loan.
Manager Oscar Garcia will have a full squad selection for Sunday’s game.
Angers
Angers continued their unbeaten run as they played their third draw of this Ligue 1 season at home to Lille. A sluggish first half saw few chances, but the second half showed a bit of life as chances started coming for both sides, one being a curling effort from Angers’s Angelo Fulgini that was well-saved. Angers managed to open the scoring as midfielder Lassana Coulibay rose above the Lille defense to execute a placed header into the far corner. However, Lille replied with an equalizer eight minutes later from a beautiful curving and dipping shot into the corner of the net; Angers could not find a way to recover their lead.
It wasn’t a classic game by any standards, but another draw to continue their unbeaten run will have satisfied Angers. Furthermore, despite not being particularly creative in their first four games of the new Ligue 1 campaign, they have managed at least a goal in each of their league games., so should pose a threat to any side.
Angers had some late transfer dealings with winger Thomas Touré joining from Bordeaux for 3 million euros, while keeper Denis Petric joined Guingamp for an undisclosed fee.
Manager Stéphane Moulin will be without any injury or suspension woes.
Saint Etienne vs. Angers – MATCH PREDICTION
Despite the loss, Saint Etienne looks like a good side with a strong attacking threat, and even more so with the addition of Rémy Cabella. Add to that before their fixture against PSG they had not conceded a single goal, and in addition their home advantage, I think they will prove to be too much for an Angers side who will look to, but likely fail to, frustrate their opponents.
Therefore, I would go for a Saint Etienne win.
MY PICK: Saint Etienne to WIN (+125)
Lyon vs. Guingamp
3-Way: 1: Lyon -217; X: +450 Draw; 2: Guingamp +800
Spread -1.5: Lyon+112; Guingamp -114
Total +3: Over -118; Under +112
Lyon
A frustrating goalless bore-draw against Nantes meant that Lyon has now gone two games without a win in the Ligue 1. Lyon had the majority of the chances, with two of their best falling to Bertrand Traoré. The first chance saw Traoré try to side-foot the ball around the opposition keeper after he was set-up by teammate Nabil Fekir, but was denied by a great save. The second saw the Burkina Faso international hit the post, which then bounced out to Fekir who should have scored instead of sending the ball over the crossbar. A late desperate penalty shout was the last piece of goal-action for Lyon, who could not find a way through despite knocking at the door throughout.
It has been frustrating times for Les Gones who have now drawn two games where, on the day, they deserved to win and should have won. With Europa League fixtures wedged between Ligue 1 games to contend with, it will have been a disappointment not to build a reserve of points before the congested fixture list starts. Saying that, with an impressive attacking force of Nabil Fekir, Bertrand Traore, Memphis Depay and Mariano Diaz, the dropped points is likely just an anomaly and they should start to win games again soon.
There were some late transfer developments for Lyon as central midfielder Tanguy NDombele joined from Amiens on loan and central midfielder Sergi Darder and winger Romain Del Castillo were sent out on loan.
Manager Bruno Génésio will have a full squad roster for Sunday’s game.
Guingamp
A satisfying 2:0 win against Strasbourg elevated Guingamp to an equally satisfying 9th position in Ligue 1, thanks to some luck and clinical finishing. Few chances were had by either side in the first half, with Strasbourg hitting the post. Strasbourg hit the woodwork twice more in the second half and Guingamp was lucky that it remained 0:0. Eventually, they grew into the game following a Moustapha Diallo headed goal from a corner and then forward Jimmy Briand sweeping the ball home from a low-cross, both signifying their second goals of the season.
Manager Antoine Kombouaré will have been relieved that his team finally scored, after going 249 minutes of football without a goal. The performance was by no means DVD-worthy, but they got the job done and look healthy in the Ligue 1 table with six points to their name.
Guingamp strengthened slightly in the last few days of the transfer window, with goalkeeper Denis Petric joining from Angers for an undisclosed fee, left back Franck Tabanou arriving from Swansea on a free transfer and goalkeeper Johnny Placideleaving to Oldham on a free transfer.
Antoine Kombouaré will have a fully fit squad for the weekend.
Lyon vs. Guingamp – MATCH PREDICTION
Lyon has serious attacking potential and has looked extremely dangerous when they’ve managed to turn it on. Guingamp, on the other hand, haven’t shown any strengths in particular and look like your average Ligue 1 side.
Even if Lyon repeats their last performance they should still win, but I would rather go with the over in this one, as I expect the Lyon forwards to show their full potential.
MY PICK: Over 3 goals (-118)
