Ligue 1 Predictions | Round 11: Rhonealpin derby, Nice & Lille look to extend unbeaten runs

GFFN editor-in-chief  Luke Entwistle and GFFN’s  Raphaël Jucobin face off in our Ligue 1 predictions competition. It’s three points for a correct score, two points for a correct score difference, and one point for a correct result. Who will come out on top at the end of the season?

SCORES

Raphaël: 56

Luke: 60

Game of the week: OGC Nice v Lille OSC , Sunday 14:00 (UK)

The skies have cleared somewhat over Nice. They haven’t lost any of their last five in Ligue 1. In that time, they have drawn against Lens, unbeaten at the time, drawn against table-topping PSG, ended Monaco’s six-month unbeaten run and taken three points away from the Stade Francis-Le Blé during last weekend’s encounter with Brest. That feat has been achieved amid an injury crisis that is somewhat abating with the likes of Youssouf Ndayishimiye and Tanguy Ndombélé now returning to bolster their ranks. They follow the likes of Dante, Melvin Bard and Jonathan Clauss, all of whom returned to the fold last week. There is no avoiding, however, that this side remains stretched, and despite their recent success in Ligue 1, securing a result against Lille will be a tough ask, given that they face Twente in the Europa League just days earlier. 

If they are to get a result, they will be reliant on Evann Guessand. The Nice academy product has shown that, in the absence of Terem Moffi, he is more than just a backup. With six goals, only Jonathan David, Mason Greenwood and Bradley Barcola have scored more goals. After netting the winner against Brest, Guessand will be hoping to continue his hot streak, whilst the return of Ndombélé should increase the service that he receives. 

Lille approach this tie off the back of another promising display in the Champions League. Performances in Ligue 1 have been somewhat wanting in recent weeks, although by and large, they have continued to achieve results. Individual talent is counting for Lille. Edon Zhegrova and David have both picked up from where they left off last season and they represent the main threats for LOSC. With Moise Bombito particularly in form and with the more defensive-minded Bard set to return, Le Gym have the means to keep that duo quiet – and that is the key to neutralising this side.

Raphaël full predictions

• Marseille 2-0 Auxerre
• Strasbourg 1-2 Monaco
• Lens 2-1 Nantes
• Angers 1-3 PSG
• Nice 1-2 Lille
• Le Havre 2-0 Reims
• Rennes 2-2 Toulouse
• Montpellier 0-3 Brest
• Lyon 2-0 Saint-Étienne

Luke’s full predictions 

• Strasbourg 1-2 Monaco
• Nice 1-1 Lille
• Lyon 3-1 Saint-Étienne
• Marseille 3-0 Auxerre
• Lens 1-0 Nantes
• Angers 0-2 PSG
• Le Havre 0-1 Reims
• Rennes 1-1 Toulouse
• Montpellier 0-3 Brest

GFFN | Luke Entwistle