Ligue 1 Preview Gameweek 8

The games are coming thick and fast in Ligue 1 and with a number of players playing every minute of every game, there is the possibility of some change in form.

Mark Sheppard previews the action from Ligue 1.

 

Reims v Lille
Date 25/09/2015 – Venue – Stade Auguste Delaune – Kick Off 19:30 (UK Time)

Reims and Lille start the weekend’s action on Friday evening and both sides go into this game having drawn their last match. The hosts have drawn their last three games meaning the gap between them in 5^th and leaders PSG has stretched to five points. Reims are still without Kossi Agassa who has a hamstring injury while Prince Oniangue’s knee problem and Grejohn Kyei’s calf injury could keep them sidelined for this match.

Lille didn’t play midweek which could have put them in a difficult position heading into the weekend but fortunately for Les Dogues none of the team below them won. They play their game in hand next week and a positive result at the Stade Auguste Delaune would set them up nicely for that game. Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama is suspended for the game but there are no more forced changes for the visitors.

Nantes v Paris Saint-Germain
Date 26/09/2015 – Venue – Stade de la Beaujoire – Kick Off 16:30 (UK Time)

Nantes are another team with a game in hand and they will need to beat Lille next week to avoid falling close to the bottom three as they are currently 17^th. They welcome PSG on Saturday and this is a game that may be too difficult to get a result given PSG’s current form. Nantes remain without the suspended Kolbeinn Sigborsson but there are no further concerns for Les Canaris.

In spite of only winning one of the last three matches PSG are still unbeaten in Ligue 1 and will look to take advantage of a struggling Nantes side who are fighting to avoid a relegation battle. No injuries or suspensions is a pleasant sign for Laurent Blanc who has a fully fit squad available for selection and will be expecting a maximum points haul from this match.

Bastia v Toulouse
Date 26/09/2015 – Venue – Stade Armand Cesari – Kick Off 19:00 (UK Time)

Visitors Toulouse will be feeling disheartened after conceding such a late goal against Marseille in the previous game. They still earned a point against one of the league’s top sides but the three points would’ve put them in a much better league position. In 14^th place and without a win since their opening game, Toulouse need to show more conviction and get a result at Bastia to avoid falling further towards the relegation zone. Dominique Arribage has a selection dilemma as Steeve Yago and Francois Moubandje both received red cards in the last game and are suspended, leaving a big gap in the Toulouse defence.

Bastia have played a lot of the top sides recently and with four consecutive defeats to their name have dropped down to 15^th in the league, so this is a very important game for them. The hosts will be without Francois Kamano who was dismissed against Lyon and Brandao is a doubt after he was missing from the squad in the previous game.

Bordeaux v Lyon
Date 26/09/2015 – Venue – Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux – Kick Off 19:00 (UK Time)

Bordeaux need to bounce back fast after they were thrashed by Nice at the Allianz Riviera but they face a tough test when they host Lyon. They have only won one of their league games this season and are in 16^th place despite PSG and Saint-Étienne. In addition to Bordeaux’s long injury list including Cheick Diabate, Thomas Toure and Gregory Sertic, Enzo Crivelli got himself sent off midweek meaning he is also out of contention in this game.

Lyon are also without a number of players through injury; Rachid Ghezzal and Mathieu Valbuena the more recent of those sidelined. Les Gones have moved up to 4^th following the win against Bastia and they are going through their best run of form so far this season. 19-year-old Aldo Kalulu is likely to start another game after scoring his first Ligue 1 goal in the week and impressing for Lyon.

Caen v Gazélec Ajaccio
Date 26/09/2015 – Venue – Stade Michel d’Ornano – Kick Off 19:00 (UK Time)

Caen go into this match on the back of a defeat to Lorient but Gazélec will be the least confident heading into this one after their hopes of a first Ligue 1 win were dashed by Rennes in the last minute of the previous game. They are still 7^th in the league and this game is a great opportunity to get back on track with a win. The hosts are still without Jonathan Delaplace but there is no more relevant team news for Caen.

Away side Gazélec shouldn’t let the result of the last game get to them as they still put in a strong performance and ended their losing streak. They also moved off the bottom of the table for the first time in weeks so they will still be hopeful of picking up points. Amos Youga is still the only player missing for Gazélec so there is almost a full squad for Thierry Laurey to choose from.