Ligue 1 Predictions, Round 8

SCORES

Raphaël: 49

Luke: 46

Bastien: 57

Guest leaderboard:

Alex Barker: 7

Julien Laurens: 7

Game of the week: Paris Saint-Germain v RC Strasbourg Alsace, Friday 19:45 (UK)

Ligue 1 football returns, and so do a whole raft of PSG players. Prior to the international break, Les Parisiens were in the midst of a full-blown injury crisis. Ousmane Dembélé, Marquinhos, Désiré Doué, Fabián Ruiz… the list goes on. However, it is understood that whilst Ballon d’Or winner Dembélé will need more time to recover from his injury, there could be five returnees for Strasbourg’s visit on Friday. The biggest and most important return is arguably that of Doué. He has been out since the start of September, and he will reinforce a forward line that was lacking in inspiration last time out, against Lille OSC. There is also the return of Khivhca Kvaratskhelia and Bradley Barcola, meaning that PSG could put out a whole new front line to the one that started against Lille. It is no doubt a big, big boost for Luis Enrique’s side, who will also welcome back Joao Neves and Ruiz into their midfield. In short, this is a PSG side that will no longer have a makeshift feel, as it has in recent weeks. 

Strasbourg, however, come into this one high on confidence. Prior to the international break, they got their Europa Conference League campaign underway with a win before putting five past Angers. Joaquín Panichelli was excellent in that encounter and is currently the joint-top scorer in Ligue 1. He may need to keep scoring the goals with Emanuel Emegha potentially out with injury until mid-November. Strasbourg will also be without Mamadou Sarr for the trip to PSG. It is unfortunate for Le Racing to be without two such key players for such a big clash. And the contrast with their hosts is that they are now slowly returning to full strength. Strasbourg are clearly an excellent side and one that should prove a serious challenger for the Champions League places, but the odds feel stacked against them here. 

Raphael’s Ligue 1 predictions

• PSG 3-1 Strasbourg
• Nice 1-2 Lyon
• Angers 0-2 Monaco
• Marseille 4-1 Le Havre
• Lens 2-2 Paris FC
• Rennes 2-1 Auxerre
• Toulouse 1-0 Metz
• Lorient 2-1 Brest
• Nantes 0-2 Lille

Luke’s predictions

• PSG 3-2 Strasbourg
• Nice 0-1 Lyon 
• Angers 0-3 Monaco
• Marseille 4-1 Le Havre
• Lens 2-1 Paris FC
• Rennes 1-1 Auxerre
• Toulouse 2-0 Metz
• Lorient 1-2 Brest
• Nantes 0-1 Lille

Bastien predictions

• PSG 1-1 Strasbourg
• Nice 0-1 Lyon
• Angers 0-0 Monaco
• Marseille 3-0 Le Havre
• Lens 2-1 Paris FC
• Lorient 1-2 Brest
• Rennes 2-1 Auxerre
• Toulouse 2-0 Metz
• Nantes 0-1 Lille