Angers vs. Montpellier (Sunday, 12.00pm)
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Montpellier HSC will be aiming to stretch their unbeaten run across all competitions to 11 matches when they travel to the Stade Raymond Kopa to take on Angers in Sunday lunchtime's Ligue 1 battle.
Michel Der Zakarian's men comfortably overcame Bordeaux before the international break, whereas Angers played out a goalless stalemate with Brest.
We say: Angers 1-2 Montpellier HSC
Despite their remarkable unbeaten run, Montpellier have failed to produce the goods away from home more often than not, and Der Zakarian must rectify that if his side are to maintain a charge for a top-five finish. Overcoming Angers on their own turf would be a good place to start, and with the hosts unpredictable at the Stade Raymond Kopa, we are backing Montpellier to come up trumps in a tight contest.
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Lorient vs. Brest (Sunday, 2.00pm)
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With both sides still embroiled in the battle to avoid demotion, 17th-placed Lorient welcome Brest to Stade du Moustoir on Sunday afternoon.
The imperiled pair drew their final matches before the international break and now go head-to-head in a crucial clash at the wrong end of Ligue 1.
We say: Lorient 1-1 Brest
Lorient's battle against the drop could be set to go down to the wire, with a fourth successive draw a distinct possibility on Saturday.
A point apiece would not represent failure for either side, as Brest could continue their declining form of recent weeks against their lower-ranked local counterparts.
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Bordeaux vs. Strasbourg (Sunday, 2.00pm)
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Bordeaux and Strasbourg will both seek to recover from their latest setbacks when they do battle at the Matmut Atlantique in Ligue 1 on Sunday afternoon.
Les Girondins were put to the sword by Montpellier HSC 3-1 last time out, while Strasbourg suffered a similarly demoralising defeat to Lens before the international break.
We say: Bordeaux 1-1 Strasbourg
Strasbourg have become somewhat of a bogey team for Bordeaux on their own patch, but Les Girondins will look back fondly on their routine triumph over Les Coureurs earlier in the campaign. However, Strasbourg have improved since then, while Bordeaux have regressed, and even though both teams are desperately seeking a victory, we ultimately expect the spoils to be shared.
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Nantes vs. Nice (Sunday, 2.00pm)
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Nice will endeavour to continue their rich vein of form when they pay a visit to the Stade de la Beaujoire to take on relegation-threatened Nantes on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts were held to a 1-1 draw by fellow strugglers Lorient before the international break, whereas Nice comfortably overcame Marseille by three goals to nil.
We say: Nantes 0-2 Nice
Even without the highly-rated Saliba in defence, 19-year-old Flavius Daniliuc and 21-year-old Jean-Clair Todibo form a formidable wall in the Nice rearguard, and Nantes may struggle to break them down. Kombouare has overseen a slight upturn in fortunes, but Ursea's Nice are working at full throttle and have plenty to offer going forward, so we can only envisage another win for Les Aiglons.
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Reims vs. Rennes (Sunday, 2.00pm)
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Rennes ended a terrible run of form before last month's international period by posting back-to-back wins, solidifying their top half place.
They resume Ligue 1 action on Sunday, at improving Reims, whose six-match unbeaten streak has seen them move nine points clear of the relegation zone coming into the final stretch - and just six behind this week's visitors.
We say: Reims 1-2 Rennes
With Rennes in the ascendancy of late and their hosts finding life tougher on home turf, Bruno Genesio's men can seal a third straight win to keep themselves in the hunt for a Europa League spot - ending a fine unbeaten run by Reims.
Though Boulaye Dia poses a real threat for the home side, Rennes can pick up their first win in this fixture for several years due to their greater individual quality and growing confidence.
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Nimes vs. St Etienne (Sunday, 4.05pm)
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Nimes will be aiming to build on their remarkable triumph at Lille when they welcome a struggling Saint-Etienne to the Stade des Costieres in Ligue 1 on Sunday afternoon.
While the hosts managed to get the better of a title-chasing team before the international break, Saint-Etienne were simply outplayed by Monaco in a 4-0 defeat last time out.
We say: Nimes 2-1 Saint-Etienne
Nimes are truly a force to be reckoned with under Plancque, and they will feel confident about their chances of beating anyone after taking all three points home from Lille. Saint-Etienne will be boosted by several returning players and have impressed on the road, but Nimes are only looking upwards and we cannot see their momentum taking a hit here, so another win for the in-form Crocodiles is our prediction.
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Marseille vs. Dijon (Sunday, 8.00pm)
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Marseille will be aiming to bounce back immediately from their crushing defeat to Nice when they welcome Ligue 1 basement side Dijon to the Orange Velodrome on Sunday evening.
The hosts fell to a 3-0 defeat to Les Aiglons before the international break, while Dijon's torrid losing run continued with a 1-0 home loss to Reims.
We say: Marseille 2-0 Dijon
Dijon's games are a foregone conclusion from the first whistle more often than not, and having three players suspended is hardly a recipe for success at a club of Marseille's calibre. The hosts could hardly have a better opportunity to return to winning ways after being humbled by Nice, so we expect Les Olympiens to all but guarantee their opponents' relegation with a routine win on Sunday.
