Metz vs. Nice (Sunday, 12.00pm)
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High-flying Nice will be looking to secure their fifth successive Ligue 1 victory when they face a resurgent Metz outfit at the Stade Saint-Symphorien on Sunday lunchtime.
The hosts have claimed the joint-fewest number of points on home soil this season (seven), while no other team have won as many away matches in the French top flight than Nice this term (eight).
We say: Metz 1-3 Nice
Both sides head into Sunday's fixture in high spirits, though the visitors will be the strong favourites to come away with all three points.
Metz can take confidence into the game having already beaten Nice this season, but Les Aiglons should have enough quality, particularly in the final third, to secure their fifth league victory in a row.
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Angers vs. Troyes (Sunday, 2.00pm)
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Angers will welcome Troyes to the Stade Jean-Bouin for their Ligue 1 encounter on Sunday afternoon.
The two teams, who currently sit in the bottom half of the table, played out a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture back in September last year.
We say: Angers 1-1 Troyes
Neither Angers or Troyes will be able to name their strongest starting lineups on Saturday, meaning we could see a more even contest played out at the Stade Jean-Bouin. With little to separate the two teams, a score draw could be on the cards.
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Bordeaux vs. Strasbourg (Sunday, 2.00pm)
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Two Ligue 1 teams experiencing contrasting runs of form will lock horns on Sunday afternoon as Bordeaux welcome Strasbourg to the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux.
The hosts have suffered four successive defeats across all competitions, while the visitors are looking to claim their seventh victory in nine matches.
We say: Bordeaux 0-3 Strasbourg
Bordeaux cannot stop conceding goals, while only Paris Saint-Germain have scored more than Strasbourg in Ligue 1 this season.
Everything points towards a comfortable victory for the visitors on Sunday, with the likes of Ajorque and Gameiro set to have plenty of joy in the final third.
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Clermont vs. Rennes (Sunday, 2.00pm)
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Following an emphatic 6-0 victory last weekend against Bordeaux, Rennes could be as high as third in Ligue 1 with a win away to Clermont and some help when they face them at Stade Gabriel Montpied on Sunday.
Les Lanciers have yet to find the back of the net this year and are winless in their previous four matches played in all competitions, while Stade Rennais picked up win number one of 2022 as they currently sit in fifth, three points back of Olympique de Marseille for third.
We say: Clermont 0-3 Rennes
Playing on their home field might help Clermont keep the score a little more respectable for a while, but with their top attacking threat on international duty, plus the quality and scoring depth that Rennes possess, we expect to see Les Rouges et Noir eventually find a breakthrough and should that happen, the floodgates could open for them to score a couple more.
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Nantes vs. Lorient (Sunday, 2.00pm)
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Both Nantes and Lorient will be seeking their first Ligue 1 victory of 2022 when they clash on Sunday at Stade de la Beaujoire.
Les Canaris dropped a 2-1 decision to Nice last Friday, while the side from Brittany are currently on the longest winless run in the top flight, without a victory in their previous 14 league fixtures.
We say: Nantes 1-0 Lorient
Neither side have been spectacular in the early portion of 2022, but Nantes have looked the more well-balanced of the two, and they tend to react better when facing adversity, whereas Lorient seem to fall apart if things do not go their way.
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Montpellier vs. Monaco (Sunday, 4.05pm)
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Seeking to avoid a third successive Ligue 1 defeat of the New Year, Montpellier HSC prepare to welcome Monaco to the Stade de la Mosson on Sunday afternoon.
Olivier Dall'Oglio's side went down 1-0 to newly-promoted Troyes in midweek, while the visitors - now under the tutelage of Philippe Clement - returned to winning ways with a 4-0 thumping of Clermont.
We say: Montpellier HSC 0-2 Monaco
Montpellier's task has been made even harder this weekend as Savanier watches on from the sidelines, with Dall'Oglio's side being given a harsh reality check following their abundance of festive joy.
A home win versus a newly-promoted side may not be a perfect indicator of how Monaco will fare under Clement in the long term - especially given their barren run in front of goal away from home - but we still expect Clement's strong start to continue thanks to the deadly attacking duo.
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PSG vs. Reims (Sunday, 7.45pm)
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Paris Saint-Germain will be out to record their fourth home win on the bounce in all competitions when Reims pay a visit to the Parc des Princes for Sunday evening's Ligue 1 fixture.
Mauricio Pochettino's men comfortably beat Brest 2-0 last time out, but the visitors fell to a disappointing 1-0 loss to relegation strugglers Metz.
We say: Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 Reims
Reims' remarkable defensive solidarity will be tested to the extreme against a PSG side expecting to welcome Messi back to action, although the potential loss of Mbappe will increase the pressure on the Argentine's shoulders to deliver.
Pochettino's side were not full value for their victory over Brest for the entire 90 minutes, but an up-and-coming Reims XI should not trouble the runaway leaders too much at the fortress that is the Parc des Princes.
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> How PSG could line up against Reims
> PSG injury, suspension list vs. Reims
Barney Corkhill
