St Etienne vs. Montpellier (Saturday, 4.00pm)
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After ending a lengthy losing run in Ligue 1 (seven games), Saint-Etienne have a chance to win consecutive domestic encounters for only the second time this season when hosting Montpellier HSC at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on Saturday.
Both teams were eliminated from the Coupe de France this past weekend as Les Verts conceded late to Bergerac Perigord in a 1-0 defeat in the Round of 16, while Olympique de Marseille knocked out La Paillade in a penalty shootout.
We say: Saint-Etienne 2-2 Montpellier HSC
The upgrades for Les Verts during the transfer window should provide this team with a much-needed spark, however it might take some time for all of those newcomers to learn a new style of play, while also building chemistry with their new teammates.
La Paillade have been clinical in the final third, though they have allowed their share of goals on the road this season as well, conceding three on three separate occasions in this domestic campaign.
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Monaco vs. Lyon (Saturday, 8.00pm)
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One of the top home sides in Ligue 1 have a chance to extend their domestic unbeaten run at Stade Louis II to nine games as Monaco play host to Lyon on Saturday.
Les Monegasques are eighth in the table, but only a point behind Lyon for seventh, while only two points separate them from Strasbourg, who are fourth.
We say: Monaco 3-1 Lyon
Monaco have come out very aggressively and have been lethal in the final third, so we expect them to continue their strong play at home with a striker in Ben Yedder who is in fine form, while on the opposite side, the absence of Ekambi seems to be affecting a team that need to find alternative sources to score.
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Barney Corkhill
