Lyon will be striving for a Champions League spot after only achieving Europa League qualification, while Metz and Guingamp will be looking for another mid-table finish. Strasbourg, on the other hand, will hope to survive in the Ligue 1 after being promoted from the Ligue 2. All teams, however, will be looking to start their league campaign in style by winning their first game.
Take a look at our season preview for a more in-depth analysis of Ligue 1’s summer activity.
Lyon vs. Strasbourg
3-Way: 1: Lyon -227; X: +420 Draw; 2: Strasbourg +750
Spread -1.5: Lyon +119; Strasbourg -125
Total +3: Over +100; Under -105
Lyon
Lyon had a decent season in Ligue 1 finishing in a very respectable fourth position, however, losing their champions league spot to Nice will have been a bitter pill to swallow.
It could be said that the turning point of their season was between 15th January and 11th February when they lost five of seven games, including the knockout out of the Coupe de France by Marseille.
Lyon was an exciting team to watch, creating 110 clear-cut chances over the season, many of which would fall to Alexandre Lacazette who scored 37 goals in all competitions with his deft finishing. In addition to the entertainment on show, Lyon scored a dramatic 14 goals in the last 10 minutes over the season.
Lyon had a mediocre pre-season, winning three, including a 2:0 win over Ajax, two losses and one draw.
Unfortunately for Lyon, Lacazette left for Arsenal over the summer for over 45 million Euros, leaving a hole to be filled. To replace their top goal scorer, Lyon has recruited Mariano Diaz from Real Madrid and added more goals through the addition of winger Bertrand Traore. Les Gones also lost a core trio of key players in midfield, Corentin Tolisso, Maxime Gonalons and Mathieu Valbuena, without signing any replacements.
Manager Bruno Génésio will have a full squad selection for Saturday`s game.
Strasbourg
Last season’s Ligue 2 champions will be raring to go after returning to the top-flight of French football after a nine-year absence. Strasbourg emerged as champions unexpectedly as they ended the season with a 10-game unbeaten streak to spring themselves to the top of the league, notably finishing with the highest number of goals in the league with 63 scored.
Additionally, Strasbourg went on a decent run in the Coupe de France, reaching the last 16 but ultimately suffered a heartbreak after losing to US Avranches on penalties. Strasbourg has been extremely satisfied with their unbeaten pre-season, winning three and drawing three.
Strasbourg has added to their arsenal through the signing of forward Idriss Saadi who scored 16 goals in the Jupiler Pro League last season, although the departure of forward Khalid Boutaib to Y. Malatyaspor may damage their attacking potential after he scored 20 goals in Ligue 2 last year. Another notable addition is centre-midfielder Jonas Martin who will add creativity to the center of the park.
Thierry Laurey will have a full squad selection.
Lyon vs. Strasbourg – MATCH PREDICTION
Lyon may take a while to find their feet as they get used to life after Lacazette and their midfield trio. Saying that Lyon still has the quality to finish in a European spot as well as to easily dispatch a newly promoted side such as Strasbourg. Personally, I fail to see what Strasbourg has in their armory that could help them stay up, on paper they look mediocre at best throughout the squad.
Due to Lyon missing limbs and it being Strasbourg’s first time in the Ligue 1, I could see a nervy low-scoring game, with Lyon just edging past with a one or two-nil score line.
MY PICK: Under 3 goals (-105)
Additional Pick: Correct score 1:0 (+900)
Metz vs. Guingamp
3-Way: 1: Metz +195; X: +225 Draw; 2: Guingamp +177
Spread 0: Metz +106; Guingamp -108
Total +2.5: Over +120; Under -125
Metz
A 14th place finish in the Ligue 1 was about as it good as it gets for a Metz who were promoted after finishing 3rd in the 2015-16 Ligue 2 season. Despite conceding 72 goals, contributed to by 7:0 and 5:0 losses to Monaco, Metz won where it counted and managed to stay afloat by a comfortable seven points.
No doubt that some of these aforementioned heavy defeats may have been worse if it weren’t for the performances of attack-stopping centre-back Simon Falette. Presumably Les Grenats will shy away from their heavy defeats and look to their impressive pre-season form for inspiration as they won three, drew two and lost one.
Over the summer, Metz regrettably sent two strikers Cheick Diabatéand and Mevlut Erdinc, back to their clubs after their loans finished, and also young prospect Ismaila Sarr to Stade Rennais foe 14.45 million Euros. Incidentally these three players scored 19 league goals between them, nearly half of the 39 Metz scored last season. Fortunately, they have made strides in replacing these players, but Ligue 1 regular Nolan Roux is the only attacker who has so far signed the dotted line, who is unlikely to score 19 goals this season; only allowing for a miracle.
Manager Philippe Hinschberger will have a full squad selection for Saturday`s game.
Guingamp
There will be a positive atmosphere around the Guingamp camp as the season begins after achieving a 10th place finish in the Ligue 1, just 9 points off a European spot and a significant improvement from 2015-16 campaign when they finished 16th. In addition to Guingamp’s successful league campaign, they performed admirably in the Coupe de France making it as far as the semi-finals but couldn’t go the extra mile as they bowed out to Angers.
One reason for Guingamp’s success was captain Jimmy Briand, who scored 12 goals in the league campaign. One mustn’t forget defender Fernando Marçal who created 54 chances from a left-back possession, Ligue 1 most creative defender.
Unfortunately, Marçal’s presence will be missed as he returned to Benfica after his loan spell ended. Guingamp have replaced Marçal with Franck Tabanou from Swansea and Pedro Rebocho from Benfica for an unknown fee. Another notable acquisition is Lebogang Phiri from Brondby FC.
Antoine Kombouaré will have a full squad selection.
Metz vs. Guingamp – MATCH PREDICTION
While Guingamp has had the better transfer-window with not too many notable changes, Metz has a pre-season rhythm on their side. With that in mind, and home ground advantage I would pick Metz to edge the game. Despite this, I would still back Guingamp to finish the season in a higher position than Metz.
In addition, neither teams look like a particularly large goal-threat to each other, so my pick would be a low-scoring game.
MY PICK: Under 2.5 Goals (-125)
