However, with champions Lille only 12th and former European hopefuls Saint-Etienne propping up the standings, it sets up to be another thrilling weekend of action.
European Joy Can Breed Domestic Relief for Lille
After outlasting Paris Saint-Germain in last season’s title race, Lille have dropped off significantly, with them feeling the departures of both Boubakary Soumare and Mike Maignan.
Saturday sees them host Angers, a side who have continued their steady rise and currently sit eighth in the standings. That said, their position is essentially down to a strong start, with Le SCO having won only one of their last eight.
Lille also received a confidence boost in the week, winning 2-1 away at Sevilla in the Champions League and Jocelyn Gourvennec will be desperate to see his side take the belief garnered from that victory into Sunday’s match and the home win is 20/27.
Angers were won of just three teams to beat Lille last term, winning 2-1 at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in January but Les Dogues turned the tables in the final weeks of the season with an away victory by the same scoreline.
While Gerald Baticle’s men do score a lot, netting in all six of their away games this season, Lille’s win in Spain will have given them a massive boost as they return their gaze to domestic matters and a home victory and both teams to score is 53/20.
Jonathan David has also scored in Lille’s last three and, with him sure to be a feature in this one, is 8/5 anytime as his side looks to sign off for the November break in style.
Can Saint-Etienne Finally Get a Win?
Things are not going well at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, with rock bottom Saint-Etienne still to win this season and after rioting in the stands, boss Claude Puel has recently received a police escort away from the ground.
Puel remains in the role and could have a chance to finally see his team take all three points when Clermont Foot make the hour or so journey east on Sunday afternoon.
Les Lanciers sit 15th in the table and the highlight of their campaign since winning promotion was last month’s 1-0 home win over Lille.
They also won at Bordeaux back in August but have otherwise picked up just two points on the road and have lost their last two games.
Clermont also face an in-form Wahbi Khazri, who has netted in his last four games and is 17/10 in the anytime market.
Khazri could be the key to a tense and nervy game. A home win and under 2.5 goals is 9/2 and maybe Sunday could be the day when Claude can get some luck.
European Battle at the Roazhan
Finally to Brittany and the battle between fifth and sixth in Ligue 1, as Rennes host Lyon.
After a mixed start to the new season, Rennes have found their feet, with Thursday’s 1-0 Conference League win over Mura extending their unbeaten run to nine games.
Lyon were also in European action on Thursday, beating Sparta Prague 3-0 in the Europa League and head west having boosted their Champions League qualification hopes by defeating fourth-placed Lens last Saturday.
These two drew 2-2 in this fixture last term and this could be an entertaining game, with the home side’s Gaetan Laborde having netted seven times in the league.
Laborde is 19/10 in the anytime market, but Les Gones remain without Moussa Dembele and that is a boost for Les Rouge et Noir.
The home win is 33/20 and that is tempting, especially when you see that Lyon lost their last away game 3-2 at Nice.
*All odds correct at time of writing
