Le Mans - Bordeaux 14 April 2010

Le Mans last 5 league matches:

Le Mans last 3 home matches:

Bordeaux last 5 league matches:

Bordeaux last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Le Mans - 19, Bordeaux - 5

Le Mans home table position: 17

Bordeaux away table position: 5

It’s incredible how things can change at the top of the French Ligue 1, in only one month, Bordeaux from the best candidate to claim another title of champions has fallen to the 5th spot and now even a participation in the Champions League is a difficult task.

Le Mans is left with little to play for as the season gets to it’s final rounds, with a total of just 22 points and only above last Grenoble, nothing can save them from an encounter with the second league in France.

No victories for them in the last 6 rounds from which they claimed only 2 points in draws with Grenoble and more surprising title contenders Montpellier last week but there is nothing in the statistic to suggest them as fierce opponents with only 4 victories and 6 draws in 16 matches played on home ground and the lack of any motivation except prestige.

With only one victory in the past 5 matches of the Ligue 1 football championship, Bordeaux is now on the 5th spot of the table with a total of 56 points, but 2 less matches played than their main competitors and one from the Current leaders Olympique Marseille.

Their main problem is the form displayed recently, except the home match against Lyon in the Champions League which they won 1-0 but failed to qualify further, the team has showed little signs of recovery or changes in played football. They have failed to win any of the past 3 matches played whilst traveling but still maintain a decent away statistic with 7 victories and 2 draws in 14 played but real problems in defense as they conceded no less than 17 goal, scoring 19.

My pick: Bordeaux to win

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Toulouse – Grenoble 10 April 2010

Toulouse last 5 league matches:

Toulouse last 3 home matches:

Grenoble last 5 league matches:

Grenoble last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Toulouse - 13, Grenoble - 20

Toulouse home table position: 13

Grenoble away table position: 19

This week, Toulouse has a great opportunity of climbing one spot in the French Ligue 1 table in front of PSG with this relatively easy match against Grenoble on Saturday.

Toulouse is far from the form and performances showed in the last season with it’s current ranking in the lower part of the table and especially their current form as they have yet to win any matches from the past 5 played.

On home ground they are still showing a decent statistic with 7 victories and 3 draws in 15 played with a good goal ratio of 15 scored and 10 conceded, a good defensive force but a weak offence especially for a team playing with the support of the fans.

Grenoble is last in the standings and condemned for relegation as they managed to gather only 15 points in 31 matches played no less than 17 at the moment from salvation, so an impossible task.

Only one victory for them in away matches and another 2 points from 2 draws with no less than 12 games lost, nothing really that would recommend them as claiming a positive result from this match.

My pick:  Toulouse to win

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Montpellier – AS Monaco 3 April 2010

Montpellier last 5 league matches:

Montpellier last 3 home matches: 

Monaco last 5 league matches:

Monaco last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Montpellier - 2, Monaco - 9

Montpellier home table position: 2

Monaco away table position: 12

With a superb season so far, Montpellier is pushing to achieve what little thought possible at the start and win the champions title of the French Ligue 1 and AS Monaco is yet another step in their path.

Montpellier surprised everyone with their very good overall performance in this season, currently on the second spot of the table, trailing Bordeaux and above Auxerre only due to the goal ratio as all 3 teams have a total of 56 points. The race to the ultimate trophy in French football is harder than ever with the first 5 spots only separated by 2 point and adding to this Monaco at a distance of 3 points from the leaders but the advantage of having played 2 games less than the opposition.

The team looks very strong on home ground with no less than 11 victories and 2 draws in all 15 played with a very good goal ratio of 21 scored and 9 conceded, losing only to Boreaux and Nancy in 2 consecutive matches played in the middle part of the season.

AS Monaco starting off this match as the underdogs as the team was unable to win any of the past 4 matches played, ending the last 3 in draws and maintaining a middle table position with little to no hope of a Europa League spot for the summer.

In away matches their situation is much worst with no victories in the last 4 played on rival’s stadium from which they lost 3 and ended one in a draw against last in the charts Grenoble. It’s hard to see them motivated to pose any real problems against Montpellier in this round but over and over AS Monaco has proven to be a team full of surprises.

My pick:  Montpellier to win

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Marseille – Lyon 21 March 2010

Marseille last 5 league matches:

Marseille last 3 home matches: 

Lyon last 5 league matches:

Lyon last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Marseille -6, Lyon -5

Marseille home table position: 11

Lyon away table position: 2

Derby match in the French Ligue 1 on Sunday with Olympique Marseille welcoming Lyon in a battle for advancing in the table and the top spots.

Marseille and Lyon are separated only by one point but with the home side in this match having played a game less than their competition and implicitly more chances of advancing.

With a total of 50 points in 27 matches played, Marseille trail leaders Bordeaux by joust one point and theoretically hold the chance to get the driver’s seat this week depending on the other results. No victory for them in the last 2 round of the Ligue 1 with 2 draws against Lorient and Toulouse, both matches started as favorites.

They hold evenly balanced statistic both at home and away with 7 victories, 3 draws and 2 defeats in front of the home crowd with a fairly good goal ratio of 23 scored and 11 conceded.

Lyon has a surprisingly similar show of results with their adversaries in this match, as Marseille they have not won any of the past 2 games with embarrassing draws against low ranked Boulogne and Saint Etienne.

Their away record is decent, having won 6 out of the 14 matches played and ending another 6 in draws. This match may seem more important for Lyon as they have a game more played as the opposition but i expect both teams to be highly motivated and determined in claiming all points.

My pick:  draw

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Rennes – Toulouse 20 March 2010

Rennes last 5 league matches:

Rennes last 3 home matches: 

Toulouse last 5 league matches:

Toulouse last 3 away matches: 

Table positions: Rennes -8, Toulouse -11

Rennes home table position: 5

Toulouse away table position: 10

With a comfortable spot in the French Ligue 1 table, Rennes is far from any spot in a European event next season but with no worries regarding the danger zone as are their adversaries in this match Toulouse.

Stade Rennes is currently on the 8th spot of the charts with a total of 43 points, the same as 7th Lorient and 8th Marseille and an improvement in form lately as after 3 straight losses they managed to win the last 2 matches played.

Their statistic in home matches is one of the strongest in the league with no less than 9 victories and 2 draws in all 14 played and a very good goal ratio of 23 scored and 11 conceded, less than one goal received per game.

Toulouse is struggling in the last few week with only one victory in the last 5 matches played in the domestic league, leaving them on the 11th spot of the table with a total of 38 points.

Nothing we can see in their away record would recommend them to pose problems against Rennes as they managed to win only 3 and end 5 in draws in all 14 played and a neutral goal ratio of 13 scored and conceded.

My pick:  Rennes to win

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Lyon – Saint-Etienne 13 March 2010

Lyon last 5 league matches:

Lyon last 3 home matches: 

Etienne last 5 league matches: 

Etienne last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Lyon -4, Etienne -16

Lyon home table position: 7

Etienne away table position: 15

With only 2 points gap from first place Bordeaux and Montpellier in the French Ligue 1, Olympique Lyon has a great chance this week to advance in the table and attempt the driver’s seat in this match against Saint-Etienne.

Having joust caused the biggest surprise of the phase in the Champions League after 1-0 and 1 all draw on Santiago Bernabeu, Lyon has a great great morale and time to focus on the domestic league in witch they have the chance to reclaim the title of champions after 2 years.

The team has won all 5 matches played on home ground in 2010 in the cup, Ligue 1 and Champions League and now show a strong statistic in the league with 8 victories and 2 draws in 13 played with a good goal ration of 21 scored and 14 conceded.

Saint-Etienne is struggling in the bottom of the the table, only the 16th spot for them in 20 team and a 6 point advantage over the danger zone, not as nearly as they would have hoped.

As many of their points where won at home, the away statistic is disastrous with only 3 victories to their name and no less than 9 defeats including the last 3 played in all 13 matches and a goal ratio to go with this of 9 scored and 25 conceded.

My pick:  Lyon 04 to win

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Marseille last 5 league matches: 

Marseille last 3 home matches:

Lorient last 5 league matches:

Lorient last 3 away matches: 

Table positions: Marseille -4, Lorient -9

Marseille home table position: 10

Lorient away table position: 9

Only 3 matches playing out in the French Ligue 1 this Sunday with Marseille welcoming Lorient regarded as an important one especially for the upper part of the table configuration.

Marseille is holding on to the 4th spot of the table but aims much higher to a Champions League spot at the end of the season, encouraged by their current form as they won all past 4 matches in the competition leaving them joust one point behind Lyon any only 3 from the top spot claimed by Bordeaux and Montpellier witch will go head to head in the same day.

They are the favorites in this match no question about it and the home pitch it’s yet another advantage for them as the good run has certainly influenced the attendance figures and fan loyalty. The home statistic looks solid as the team won 7 and ended 2 in draws in 11 played with a goal ratio showing 20 scored and 10 conceded.

Lorient is on a modest 9th spot of the Ligue 1 table, in terms with the team’s ambitions and objective as they cannot hope for much improvement during this season.

They have won 2 out of the past 5 matches played, somewhat surprisingly away to PSG in an embarasing 3-0 victory for the home side and last week home with Sochaux by the slightest of margins. Their record in front of their crowd is rather decent having won 5 games and ended 1 in a draw with the rest of 7 lost.

My pick:  Marseille to win

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Lens last 5 league matches:

Lens last 3 home matches:

PSG last 5 league matches:

PSG last 3 away matches: 

Table positions: Lens -13, PSG -12

Lens home table position: 8

PSG away table position: 12

A great opportunity this week for many of the players to get some much needed rest as international friendlies where played on Wednesday and back to the league football this weekend and this interesting match in the French Ligue 1 as Lens welcome PSG with little separating them in the table.

With 26 matches played so far, Lens is situated in the lower part of the table with a total of joust 33 points, below PSG in the standings only due to a weaker goal ratio as the teams share the same amount of points.

The team has won 2 out of the past 5 matches played and both where on home ground, from where much of the overall points come. Their statistic on home pitch is rather good for a team in their position with 7 victories and 3 draws losing only 3 matches in all 13 played with a goal ratio of 17 scored and 11 conceded showing a good defense with less than one goal conceded per match.

Yet another terrible season for PSG, the team form the capital city is continuing it’s downward spiral that begun a few years back and for this season it looks that they will have to settle for a middle of the table spot and no participation in any European tournaments.

Their current form is awful with only 4 points managed in the last 7 matches played, a victory against Toulouse and a goalless draw against Nancy losing the rest of 5. Their last victory in an away match in the Ligue 1 dates back from the start of December and that was obtained against the last spot holders Boulogne followed by 5 defeats and one draw bringing the away statistic to 3 victories and 3 draws with 7 losses and a negative goal ratio of 16 scored and 18 conceded..

My pick:  Lens to win

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Lille last 5 league matches:

Lille last 3 home matches: 

Auxerre last 5 league matches:

Auxerre last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Lille -3, Auxerre -6

Lille home table position: 1

Auxerre away table position: 9

Things are heating up at the top of the French Ligue 1 as Bordeaux lost it’s comfortable advantage and Lille has it’s chance but a though match against Auxerre this week.

OSC Lille is third in the league table with a total of 47 points, 4 short of leaders Bordeaux and only one from second Montpellier. Their position is in danger also as both Olympique Lyon and Marseille are in reaching range and await their chance for the spot.

The team has the best statistic of all in home matches with 9 victories and 3 draws in all 13 played having lost joust one in the very first match of the championship against Lorient and now sitting on a 8 match winning streak in front of the home crowd and a goal ratio of 29 scored and 9 conceded.

Auxerre with a fairly good season so far and close to a European tournament for next year. 6th in the table currently with a total of 42 points, only 5 behind their adversaries in this match.

Their situation in away games is rather poor though with a statistic of 4 victories and 4 draws in 11 played but what strikes is the goal ratio of only 6 scored and 9 conceded witch can lead us to think this will probably be a closed game with few goals.

My pick:  Lille to win

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Lyon last 5 league matches:

Lyon last 3 home matches:

Nice last 5 league matches:

Nice last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Lyon -4, Nice -17

Lyon home table position: 9

Nice away table position: 17

With an intense battle at the top of the French Ligue 1, no less than 5 teams play their chances for the ultimate trophy with Olympique Lyon involved in this dispute and welcoming Nice on Saturday.

Olympique Lyon is in a very good form and it’s showing that in all competitions with 4 victories in the past 5 rounds of the domestic league and a superb morale boosting win last week in the Champions League over Spanish giants Real Madrid.

It’s been a hard battle for Lyon but after a very poor run, the team looks to be restored to it’s former glory and it’s now only 5 points from leaders Bordeaux and 2 from second Montpellier. So this is a good chance for them to advance but caution is the key word as Marseille sit joust one point behind with a game less played.

Nice is sitting joust above the relegation line, with a total of joust 26 points, 6 above the danger zone, 3 of which managed last week in a 1-0 victory over Lorient. This was the team’s first victory since late November and put an end to a string of 11 matches without wining.

As expected the team’s statistic is very poor and this especially in away matches where they managed only 2 victories and 2 draws, losing the rest of 9 played and an awful goal ratio of 9 scored and 23 conceded.

My pick:  Lyon to win (over 2.5 goals)

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