Ligue 1, the French top league doesn’t know a break either: predictions on Angers-Lorient, Nantes-Auxerre and Toulouse-Ajaccio.
Frenetic rhythms in France, too, with Ligue 1, which, despite having reopened just after Christmas, is ready to provide spectacle and excitement even on New Year’s Day, kicking off 2023 properly. The evening’s big match between Lens and Psg, the two teams that are vying for the title, monopolises the attention, but there are also other interesting challenges on the programme with plenty to keep you interested.
Here we will analyse the other 3pm matches, with the exception of Monaco-Brest, to which we have dedicated a separate post. On the Angers pitch, increasingly last in the standings after the defeat in the salvation clash with Ajaccio (1-0), Lorient, the great surprise of this tournament but which seems to have run out of petrol, is looking for redemption. Regis Le Bris’ Merlus have now gone six games without a win, having collapsed 0-2 at home on Thursday against a far from irresistible Montpellier. The Orange have no salvation problems, having racked up the points in Ligue 1, but the European zone is slowly receding.
Ligue 1, two thrilling direct clashes
As for Angers, the situation is critical. The Scoitses’ last success dates back to last September and the spoils are only eight points: at this rate, fifth-last place is destined to become a mirage. Against Lorient the two Moroccans Ounahi and Boufal, who will almost certainly change teams in January, will not be present.
Pallois, Nantes defender
Lorient’s success is conceivable, but it is better to bet on goals: they are likely to score at least one on each side. There could also be plenty of excitement in the clash between Nantes and Auxerre, two teams unable to pull themselves out of the bottom half of the table. Antoine Kombouare’s yellow-greens, who will face Juventus in the Europa League in February, did not go beyond a disappointing 0-0 draw with Troyes in the last round, while newly promoted Auxerre surrendered 2-3 to Monaco. In front of their home crowd, Nantes only lost to Psg and are likely to avoid defeat against a side that has conceded more goals away from home than anyone else.
Toulouse and Ajaccio also have a salvation clash. The Occitans have one point more than the Corsicans but the red zone is still very close. Biancoviola were heavily defeated in Marseille: a 6-1 difficult to digest. Ajaccio, on the other hand, continued their comeback and a narrow but valuable success came against Angers. We expect a prideful reaction from the hosts in a match with less than three goals overall.
POSSIBLE RESULTS:
Angers-Lorient 1-2
Nantes-Auxerre 1-1
Toulouse-Ajaccio 1-0
