Ligue 1 Preview Gameweek 2

Rennes v Montpellier  – Date 15/08/2015 – Venue – Roazhon Park – Kick Off 19:00 (UK Time)

Both Rennes and Montpellier suffered defeats last weekend and will be looking to get their first points on the board on Saturday evening. Rennes are 13^th after losing 2-1 at Bastia having taken the lead and Montpellier were on the receiving end of one of the weekend’s shock results, losing 2-0 at home to Angers leaving them at the bottom of the league.

Rennes could be without Abdoulaye Doucoure who dislocated his shoulder in the loss at Bastia, leaving the pitch after just 13 minutes. Montpellier don’t have any new injury news but some tactical changes could well be made following their disappointing performance against Angers.

Troyes v Nice – Date 15/08/2015 – Venue – Stade de l’Aube – Kick Off 19:00 (UK Time)

Nice travel to the Stade de l’Aube with some concerning team changes after their home defeat to Monaco. Les Aiglons lost 2-1 after taking the lead after just seven minutes; Olivier Boscagli’s red card was the turning point meaning he is also suspended for this game against Troyes. Goalkeeper Simon Pouplin could be out with quadriceps strain and defender Mathieu Bodmer may also be sidelined with a calf injury, both of which were picked up in the previous game.

This is Troyes’ second home game already this season and they will aim to use the home crowd to earn another positive result following the draw against Gazélec Ajaccio. They have no new injury concerns and may name a similar starting eleven to the one saw last weekend in the hope of their first win back in Ligue 1.

Reims v Marseille – Date 16/08/2015 – Venue – Stade Auguste Delaune – Kick Off 13:00 (UK Time)

Marseille have very big problems at the moment, sitting just one place outside of the bottom three and without a permanent manager after Marcelo Bielsa’s departure. Franck Passi will step in as the team’s interim manager while Marseille search for a replacement. Their sub-standard home defeat to Caen was a bit of a shock, so it will be interesting to see how Marseille shape up against a confident Reims side as it could be an early indication as to how their season will pan out.

Reims will be feeling positive after their away win at Bordeaux as they are 3^rd in the table and will hope to take advantage of a downbeat Marseille team. They won’t make too many changes to their starting eleven, but youngster Jordan Siebatcheu will feel he has earned a start after the 19-year-old substitute sealed the three points at Bordeaux with an 87^th minute goal.

Lorient v Bastia  – Date 16/08/2015 – Venue – Stade du Moustoir – Kick Off 16:00 (UK Time)

Lorient and Bastia will both be confident after excellent starts to the new season, with Bastia beating Rennes and sitting 4^th in the league and Lorient producing a fine performance to earn a point at Lyon. Lorient’s Rafidine Abdullah will have completed his suspension from last season by Sunday but it is doubtful he will return to the starting eleven so soon.

Bastia will be without Brandao, who was sent off in the previous game against Rennes for another ill-disciplined act but otherwise there shouldn’t be wholsesale changes after their positive start on the opening day of the season. A win here could set them up for a comfortable season in Ligue 1.

PSG v Gazélec Ajaccio – Date 16/08/2015 – Venue – Parc des Princes – Kick Off 20:00 (UK Time)

Gazélec Ajaccio’s second game in the top flight involves a trip to the Parc des Princes where they will face Ligue 1 champions PSG. Both teams will be happy with how they’ve started the season, with PSG in 8^th after winning at Lille, and Gazélec in 12^th after their draw with Troyes. PSG may wrongly view this game as a comfortable win, but they may again struggle if Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s knee injury keeps him out of action. They are also without the suspended Adrien Rabiot, who is likely to be replaced by Thiago Motta or Benjamin Stambouli; Angel Di Maria may also not feature due to a lack of match fitness.

Gazélec are without new injury concerns, but one player who may be dropped from the team is Mohamed Larbi, as the Tunisian’s penalty miss possibly cost his team the three points last weekend which would have been an ideal start to their Ligue 1 campaign after promotion last season.