Lens vs. Toulouse (Sunday, 2.00pm)
© IconSport
Two sides in the hunt for a place in Europe next season resume their Ligue 1 campaigns on Sunday as Lens host Toulouse at Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
Heading into 2025, Les Sang et Or are seventh, playing to a 2-2 draw with Auxerre in their previous league contest, putting them three points above ninth-place Toulouse, who defeated Saint-Etienne 2-1.
We say: Lens 2-1 Toulouse
Both teams are in good form heading into the new year, but we believe the aggressiveness and pressing of the home side will be too difficult for Toulouse to handle in the end.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Angers vs. Brest (Sunday, 2.00pm)
© Imago
Separated by four places in the Ligue 1 table, Angers and Brest face off in the 16th round at Stade Raymond Kopa on Sunday, keen to get 2025 off to a promising start.
The promoted side have endured a miserable return to top-tier football and are a point clear of the bottom two before facing an opponent whose form appeared to be turning around prior to the winter break.
We say: Angers 1-2 Brest
Brest seemed to be finding some form before 2024 ended, and the Pirates are backed to notch a fourth consecutive win in all competitions to extend their sequence of Ligue 1 triumphs over struggling Angers to three matches, and four in all tournaments.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Strasbourg vs. Auxerre (Sunday, 2.00pm)
© Imago
Strasbourg will begin 2025 by welcoming Auxerre to Stade de la Meinau on Sunday on matchday 16 of the Ligue 1 campaign for both sides.
The club from Alsace are 13th in the table, defeating Le Havre 3-0 in their previous domestic affair, while AJA sit eighth after earning a 2-2 result versus Lens.
We say: Strasbourg 2-0 Auxerre
Away from home, Auxerre are far too passive and dependent on their goalkeeper Donovan Leon, so we believe an in-form Strasbourg side should be able to take advantage of that this weekend.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Marseille vs. Le Havre (Sunday, 7.45pm)
© Imago
In the first matchweek back after Ligue 1's winter break, high-flying Marseille are set to host relegation-threatened Le Havre at Orange Velodrome on Sunday.
Les Olympiens will come into the game with confidence having beaten Saint-Etienne 4-0 in the Coupe de France last time out, while Le Club Doyen will be looking to start 2025 strongly after an embarrassing loss against fourth-tier Stade Briochin on December 22.
We say: Marseille 2-0 Le Havre
Marseille and Le Havre have experienced contrasting seasons so far, with the hosts being second while the visitors are second from bottom.
Given that Digard's side have earned almost all of their points against teams near the foot of the table, it is difficult to see them winning this weekend, and considering that they have yet to draw a single game this term, it is unlikely they will manage to avoid defeat against De Zerbi's men either.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Ben Knapton
