Brest vs. Marseille (Saturday, 4.00pm)
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Both aiming to kickstart their 2024-25 Ligue 1 campaign with a victory, Brest will play host to Marseille at the Stade Francis-Le Ble on Saturday.
The hosts achieved their highest-ever top-flight finish by securing third place last season, while the visitors disappointingly dropped out of the European spots for the first time since 2018-19, finishing eighth.
We say: Brest 1-1 Marseille
De Zerbi's side are likely to dominate the possession in this game and could cause Brest plenty of problems, but we expect the hosts to pounce on the counter-attack, leading us to expect a draw in this one.
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Reims vs. Lille (Saturday, 6.00pm)
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Reims are set to host Lille at the Stade Auguste-Delaune II on Saturday evening, with both sides aiming to start the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season on a positive note.
The hosts finished ninth in the league last year, just four points behind seventh-placed RC Lens in the European places, while the visitors finished fourth, securing them a place in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds.
We say: Reims 1-0 Lille
Reims were at their best at home last season, and with the visitors coming off the back of 120 minutes against Fenerbahce in their last match, we believe the hosts have the advantage and will go on to win this one.
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Monaco vs. St Etienne (Saturday, 8.00pm)
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Fresh from a striking pre-season win over Barcelona, Monaco return to Ligue 1 action on Saturday night, when newly-promoted Saint-Etienne make a pit stop at Stade Louis II.
While Adi Hutter's men wound up in second place in the 2023-24 top flight, Les Verts conquered the promotion playoffs to earn their Ligue 1 badge at the expense of Metz.
We say: Monaco 3-0 Saint-Etienne
Even without Ben Yedder lurking in the final third, Monaco possess more than enough offensive firepower to put Saint-Etienne to the sword on Saturday, perhaps by an identical scoreline to their Barcelona battering.
While a good chunk of Les Verts' defenders have Ligue 1 experience, the visitors lack a genuine threat up top and will surely struggle to stay afloat in the top division.
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Oliver Thomas
