Global, Ligue 1

The top league in France, Ligue 1, enters its 9ème Journée this weekend after the involvement of seven clubs in European competition in midweek.

It’s tight at the top after eight rounds, with league leaders Nancy sitting on 16 points. Seventh placed side Le Mans for example, sit only three behind on 13. The top two of Nancy and reigning champions Lyons have the luxury of a game in hand, and both are at home this weekend.

Leaders Nancy are looking to continue their 100% home record as they take on eighth placed Lorient on Saturday. The visitors however are unbeaten on the road so far this term, but have only registered one win. Lorient also have failed to win in their last four games since they temporarily topped the table after an impressive 2-1 home win against Lyons. At home though, expect Nancy to score goals from anywhere on the park. Strikers Marc Fortune and Kim have weighed in with three goals each, but six other players have also contributed to the thirteen goals bagged in eight games. Lorient’s main threat lies in forward Rafik Saifi, who has four strikes to his name this campaign.

Saturday’s live game sees Marseille, fresh from a home win in the Champions League against Besiktas, travel to Auxerre. Both sides are struggling in Ligue 1, the home side in 16th, and the visitors only one place and one point higher. At home, Auxerre have won two and lost two, and with Marseille buoyed by their midweek victory, it’s likely l’OM will emerge with a much needed win.

An intriguing tie is that of Saturday’s Toulouse v Lens fixture, with both sets of players likely to be suffering from the exertions of their respective Uefa cup matches. Toulouse face the prospect of two games in 48 hours, having endured a frustrating evening in a 0-0 home draw against CSKA Sofia. Lens on the other hand had the luxury of an extra days rest having played their home game with FC Copenhagen on Wednesday, a match which ended 1-1.

Alain Perrin’s side are chasing their seventh straight league title and have the incentive of potentially topping the table come the end of the weekend with a victory

Elsewhere, surprise package Valenciennes take on Monaco. Valenciennes have won three out of four at home so far, whereas the principality side, defeated at home against Paris SG last round, are unpredictable on the road. Many are questioning if the home side can keep up their impressive early season form, which has them into fifth place and only two points off the top. Monaco, though, are only a point behind and should be looking to win a game like this if they are serious about their European qualification ambitions.

Mid-table games involve Nice taking on St Etienne and Strasbourg versus Le Mans. A win for any of these teams could lift them close to the top given how tight it all is just now. Nice are unbeaten at home in four, whilst St Etienne have only scored once and picked up one point on their travels. Strasbourg’s game against Le Mans is a far tougher game to call; both are looking for a win that would propel them up the table. Racing are unbeaten at home, and Le Mans only returned to winning ways last weekend after a three match losing run.

Finally, at the bottom, two of the promoted sides will battle it out to try to claw their way out of the bottom three. Eighteenth-placed Caen entertain bottom club Metz at the Stade Michel D Ornano in what is already looking like a vitally important game for both. Caen haven’t won since the opening day of the season – a home win over Nice – and Metz are yet to record an away goal. It has 0-0 written all over it, but with so much at stake already, neither team is likely to sit in for a point.

On Sunday, Lyons will be looking to bounce back from their crushing defeat at Barcelona in the Champions League. They take on a Lille side who have drawn six of their eight games, but who are also unbeaten on the road. Alain Perrin’s side, however, are chasing their seventh straight league title and have the incentive of potentially topping the table come the end of the weekend with a victory. With eight goals so far, look to Karim Benzema to be amongst the goals for OL.

Unbeaten in five, Paul Le Guen’s Paris SG side will try to pick up their first home win of the season against Bordeaux, who are likely to still feel the effects of their late show in the Uefa cup against Tampere United on Thursday night. Bordeaux haven’t lost on the road but Paris will look to prevail after an indifferent start. They will be looking to their strikers to sharpen up, with defender Sylvian Armand joint top scorer at the club on just two goals.

And on Sunday night, Rennes and Sochaux play having been involved in the Uefa Cup in midweek. Sochaux succumbed to an embarrassing 2-0 home defeat against Greek side Panionios, while Rennes in contrast picked up a valuable three away goals at Locomotiv Sofia. In Ligue 1, Rennes sit fourth and one point off the leaders, whereas Sochaux are 19th and winless, still struggling after Perrin’s departure. Can they put an end to their relegation form at the Route de Lorient?

If you want to know more about Ligue 1 or French Football, send in your questions to mail@footballingworld.com. Grant will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

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