Ligue 1 Predictions | Round 29 | OneFootball

Ligue 1 Predictions, Round 29

GFFN editor-in-chief  Luke Entwistle and GFFN’s  Raphaël Jucobin face off in our Ligue 1 predictions competition. It’s three points for a correct score, two points for a correct score difference, and one point for a correct result. Who will come out on top at the end of the season?

Scores

Raphaël: 143

Luke: 159

Game of the week:  Olympique Lyonnais v Stade Brestois, Sunday 19:45 (UK)

Lyon’s revival has been nothing short of spectacular. At the start of December, Olympique Lyonnais were rock bottom of Ligue 1, three points off second-bottom Clermont Foot. Pierre Sage sparked an immediate revival. Having secured seven points in their first 14 games, Lyon won their last three games in the run-up to the winter break.  However, upon the return of football in mid-January, there was a relapse of sorts. At the start of February, OL occupied the relegation play-off spot. The threat of relegation was still real. Two months later and the story could not be more different. We are no longer talking about a relegation candidate but a European contender.

Les Gones’ latest win, which came late in the second half at an empty Beaujoire against Nantes, takes them to within just one point of Marseille and Rennes. Momentum is with OL, who have lost just one in their last nine in Ligue 1. With a place in the Coupe de France final also secured, Lyon have two shots at securing European football for next season, however, the calendar is not kind to them.

Brest are no easy client. Still in second, bar PSG, Les Brestois are the favourites to secure Champions League qualification for next season. Defensive solidity and workmanlike midfielders have been the backbone of the Breton club’s surprise success this season. Their victory against Metz last weekend was secured in much different circumstances. For the first time this season, Eric Roy opted to start both Steve Mounié and Martin Satriano. Brest’s strikers haven’t been prolific this season, but both got on the scoresheet against Metz. However, their defensive solidity was sacrificed as a result. It is only the second time all season that Brest have conceded three in a match; the only other time was against PSG in October.

It was an experiment, however, it is perhaps one that will not be repeated, especially against a Lyon side that is much more prolific and has a much more impressive attacking arsenal than Metz. Both sides are playing out of their skins currently and both sides will be looking for points to further their goals. Lyon, in the role of the hunter rather than the hunted, will be the more desperate for all three points and that will perhaps show on the pitch.

Raphaël’s full predictions

Luke’s full predictions

GFFN | Luke Entwistle