Ajaccio vs. Angers (Wednesday, 2.00pm)
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Two sides in the Ligue 1 relegation zone will go head-to-head on Wednesday when Ajaccio play host to Angers.
Ajaccio picked up four points from their previous two games before the World Cup break, while the visitors have lost their last seven league matches.
We say: Ajaccio 1-2 Angers
Although they have lost their last seven league games, we think the World Cup break may have helped Angers reset before the return to competitive action, and we believe they may be able to claim a narrow victory against another side that are in the relegation zone.
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Troyes vs. Nantes (Wednesday, 2.00pm)
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Troyes and Nantes have an opportunity to end lengthy winless spells in Ligue 1 when they resume the top-flight campaign on Wednesday at Stade de l'Aube.
ESTAC have not won a domestic affair since beating Clermont 3-1 in September, while the last victory for la Maison Jaune in this competition occurred in October against that same team, 2-1.
We say: Troyes 1-1 Nantes
These are two evenly matched teams with just a single point separating them in the table, and without their most lethal attacking threat, we expect the new Troyes boss will have a more conservative approach in this encounter.
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Auxerre vs. Monaco (Wednesday, 4.00pm)
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For the first time in over a decade, Auxerre and Monaco will meet in a Ligue 1 encounter on Wednesday at Stade de l'Abbe-Deschamps.
The club from Burgundy are unbeaten in their last three home fixtures in this competition, while Les Monegasques have only dropped one of their seven domestic matches away from home this season.
We say: Auxerre 0-1 Monaco
Monaco look a lot more compact on the road than they do at Stade Louis II, and their creativity in the midfield, along with some in-form strikers, should make it difficult for Auxerre to get a foothold in this game.
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Clermont vs. Lille (Wednesday, 6.00pm)
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For only the third time in their history, Clermont and Lille will square off as the Ligue 1 campaign resumes for both sides on Wednesday at Stade Gabriel Montpied.
CF63 are winless in five successive domestic encounters, sitting 10th in the table, while Les Dogues are only two points behind Lorient for a place in Europe next season, losing just once in their last six games of this competition.
We say: Clermont 1-2 Lille
The Clermont backline have often looked a little unhinged when under pressure, and they can expect to face their share of that against an aggressive unit in Lille who have some quality in the attacking third and can make their scoring chances count.
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PSG vs. Strasbourg (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
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A Paris Saint-Germain side ostensibly cruising towards another Ligue 1 title resume their quest for glory when Strasbourg visit the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.
Christophe Galtier's men hold a five-point lead over Lens at the top of the table, while their under-performing visitors are second from bottom after a disastrous first half of the season.
We say: Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 Strasbourg
Strasbourg's current crop are no strangers to a five-at-the-back system and could adopt that approach here in order to quell the PSG attack, who should still be their rampant selves even with Messi not pulling the strings.
Stephan's side were able to hold their own in a couple of challenging games before the break, but PSG continue to put most foes to the sword and should ease to a resounding win on Wednesday night.
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> How PSG could line up against Strasbourg
Brest vs. Lyon (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
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The Ligue 1 campaign resumes on Wednesday, with Brest in search of back-to-back domestic triumphs for the first time all season when they host Lyon at Stade Francis Le Ble.
Before the World Cup break, Brest dug themselves out of relegation thanks to a 2-1 victory over Troyes, while Lyon drew their previous league fixture 1-1 versus Nice.
We say: Brest 1-1 Lyon
Despite having plenty of experienced players and lots of quality, Lyon still seem to be searching for their identity under Blanc.
Brest do not possess nearly as much talent on paper as their opponents but have been sharper along the back end at home in league play, and they seem to be able to handle OL when they come to town.
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Barney Corkhill
