As on every day of the championship, find our information and our forecasts for the matches of Saturday and Sunday.
After the incredible victory of Nantes last night against Lens (3-2 after being led 2-0), following the 18th Ligue 1 day today, with, at 5 p.m., the match between Brest and Montpellier.
The most fit team in Ligue 1 (6 wins in a row) welcomes Montpellier, which has just beaten Clermont with difficulty. Facing his former club, Michel Der Zakarian, will be keen to continue his exceptional series and for once, to pass in front of the MHSC which is ahead of him by one point.
For this meeting, the Héraultais will have to do without Estève and Mollet, while the Stade Brestois has an almost complete group, apart from Cibois.
A big first for Sablé?
The second match of this Saturday will oppose the Reims stadium to Saint-Etienne. By winning at Groupama Stadium on the last day, Oscar Garcia ensured a reunion with his former club. However, a hard blow for the Rémois, who are deprived of their captain, Abdelhamid, suspended, just like Bensha. Among the Greens, Julien Sablé must compose without Hamouma, Moukoudi or even Gabriel Silva, injured.
Sunday, the 18th day will continue with an exciting game. From 1 p.m., the LOSC, crowned with its qualification for the knockout stages of C1, welcomes Lyonnais marked by their defeat against Reims at home, and the loss of a point.
An ultra important meeting for the Gones who are deprived of Paqueta (suspended), but also Denayer (out about 8 weeks) and Toko-Ekambi (injured). In Lille, Weah is forfeited, Reinildo is suspended. Difficult to give a favorite for this meeting which could end in a draw.
Nice without Delort and in danger in Rennes
Four matches then take place at 3 p.m., with a real shock between Rennes and Nice. Who will win “the battle of the underdogs”? The Rennais saw their match at Tottenham postponed (8 cases of covid among the English) and will be fresh to welcome the Aiglons, more comfortable away from home than at home lately. While several players are uncertain in Rennes (including Tait and Doku), Nice is deprived of Delort (suspended). Gouiri should make his return in attack, for a Nice feat?
The other three meetings (Angers – Clermont, Troyes – Bordeaux and Metz – Lorient) are very open. Note that Angers records the return of Bernardoni, Bordeaux hopes to be able to align Koscielny with Troyes (still deprived of Rami), while Metz records the returns of Maïga and De Préville. But will do without Jemerson (suspended). Lorient for its part, records the return of Laporte.
Strasbourg wants the place of OM
From an accounting point of view, the real shock of this 18th day will oppose Strasbourg to OM, to Meinau, since it will oppose the 6th (Strasbourg) at 3th (Marseille). If successful, the Alsatians will pass in front of the Phocéens (thanks to a better goal difference).
For this meeting, Jorge Sampaoli had put players to rest (Payet, Kamara, Caleta-Car…) who should find their place, while Milik could regain a starting place.
In Strasbourg, apart from the long-term absentees (Lemarchand and Mothiba), everyone is on the bridge. The Alsatians remain on two convincing victories (5-2 against Lorient and 3-0 in Nice) and should jostle the Marseillais who, for their part, remain on a defeat against Brest at the Vélodrome.
Finally, the 18th the day will end with a great classic: PSG – Monaco (9 p.m.). A match that ASM will play without Volland, suspended, but also Badiashile and Diatta (injured). Fabregas, he is in recovery. While Monaco has begun its return to the top (two consecutive victories in Ligue 1, a qualification for the eighth of the Europa League), the meeting could be quite open, with however the advantage for Paris.
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