Ligue 1 Preview Gameweek 10

Saint-Étienne v Gazélec Ajaccio
Date 17/10/2015 – Venue – Stade Geoffroy-Guichard – Kick Off 19:00 (UK Time)

Saint-Étienne host Gazélec in what seems a one-sided affair on paper, but two consecutive defeats may be disheartening for Les Verts and uplifting for the visitors. The hosts have dropped to 6^th in the league and will be looking to close the gap on PSG once more with three points at the weekend. With no new injuries or suspensions Saint-Étienne could name an unchanged side, but Christophe Galtier may want to make some changes to replenish his side.

Visitors Gazélec are still bottom of the league without a win in their opening nine Ligue 1 games but some stronger performances over the last few matches can give them a reason to stay positive. They are without some key players however as Roderic Filippi and David Ducourtioux are both suspended after accumulating too many yellow cards.

Toulouse v Angers
Date 17/10/2015 – Venue – Stadium Municipal – Kick Off 19:00 (UK Time)

Ligue 1 surprise package Angers moved up to 2^nd after the last round of fixtures with a narrow win over Bastia and they have the opportunity to get more points on the board against a struggling Toulouse side. The hosts have only lost once all season and with their defensive record on par with leaders PSG, they can keep striving as long as the team is scoring goals. Romain Saiss is a big miss for Angers as he has been involved in all of the league games so far but a suspension keeps him out of this one.

Toulouse are still without a win since the opening day of the season and are only four points clear of the bottom three. With only Lorient managing to defeat Angers so far this season it is a huge task for Les Pitchouns. Montpellier and Troyes have very winnable games at the weekend and if Toulouse fail to win their match they could be dragged further into a relegation battle. The home side have a number of absentees and it may cost them in this game; Mauro Goicoechea is out with a hand injury while Jean Daniel Akpa Akpro and Uros Spajic are suspended.

Marseille v Lorient
Date 18/10/2015 – Venue – Stade Vélodrome – Kick Off 13:00 (UK Time)

Marseille were unfortunate not to come away with a result at the Parc des Princes in the last game but another loss saw them plummet to 16^th in the table, just four points above the relegation zone. The latest news in the Marseille side is that Jacques-Alaixys Romao is sidelined with an ankle injury.

Away side Lorient are up to 9^th after winning four games out of their last five against top opposition in Angers, Monaco, Caen and Bordeaux. They will look to take advantage of a despondent Marseille team and another three points is likely to take them into the top six. Les Merlus are without Lamine Gassama and Rafidine Abdullah due to suspensions and Raphael Guerreiro and Benjamin Jeannot are sidelined with a hip injury and a knock.

Bordeaux v Montpellier
Date 18/10/2015 – Venue – Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux – Kick Off 16:00 (UK Time)

Bordeaux face Montpellier on Sunday evening in what is a key game already this season, as a win for either side will give them some respite from the threat of the bottom three. Les Girondins followed up their impressive victory over Lyon with a disappointing defeat to Lorient and they are only 14^th in the league despite aiming for the European spot. They are without Andre Biyogo Poko and Maxime Poundje who are suspended but there are no new injury concerns over the team.

Montpellier failed to earn successive wins in the last game as they were beaten by Lille in the last game; however they are closing the gap on the teams above them meaning they are only four points from safety. They are without Rami Bensebaini and Bryan Dabo who are suspended from the match and a long injury list includes Mustapha Yatabare, Kevin Berigaud and Souleymane Camara.

Rennes v Nice
Date 18/10/2015 – Venue – Roazhon Park – Kick Off 20:00 (UK Time)

Hosts Rennes are without a win in four matches but they have stretched their unbeaten run to eight and this has seen them jump to 4^th in the league. They face a Nice side in inspired form and this will be far from an easy game. Rennes have been hit with an injury bug and they will be without a number of players; Paul-Georges Ntep with a thigh injury, Edson Mexer with a patellar tendon injury, Gelson Fernandes with a thigh injury, Benoit Costil and Mehdi Zeffane are also out.

Nice have continued their excellent goal scoring form and are 8^th in the league, despite playing a game less after the game with Nantes was abandoned and will be played in a few weeks time. If they can continue their strong performances that have comfortably beaten Bastia, Bordeaux and Saint-Étienne they can earn another three points at Roazhon Park on Sunday. Mouez Hassen is a doubt for the visitors after suffering a hamstring injury and Maxime Le Marchand completes his suspension this weekend.