Lloris will need to have a big day against Montpellier for OL to win.
Last week in Ligue 1, we had a number of evenly matched teams playing one another. This week, it is a different story. Instead, we have some really good and stiff competitions. Some team will be able to show if they have what is take to stay at the top of the Ligue 1 table. Some will show if they are really a cinderella story, and have just been messing with us the last 15 weeks.
Arles-Avignon vs. AS Nancy Lorraine – if Brest isn’t going to be in the relegation zone this year, who is? Of course, we already know that Arles-Avignon will be down there. But Nancy makes a good case for demotion as well.
So far this year, Nancy hasn’t had any consistency. They have quality players like Youssouf Hadji, Marama Vahirua and Paul Alo’o Efoulou who haven’t produced. Goalkeeper Gennaro Bracigliano, who suffered a finger injury not too long ago, seems to have been replaced by Damien Gregorini. Again, that isn’t helping the team. Basically, they really don’t have anything going for them.
The only thing they have going for them this week is that they are playing Arles-Avignon, who are even worse than they are. During the off-season, there was a lot of talk about Arles-Avignon bringing in a lot of new players from around the world. Most of them are average at best in the leagues they came from. And if the team is basically “new”, how can the team create chemistry amongst the players? Arles was a disaster from the start.
Prediction: Nancy wins 3-1.
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Filed under: AC Arles Avginon, AJ Auxerre, AS Monaco FC, AS Nancy Lorraine, FC Lorient, FC Sochaux-Montbeliard, LOSC Lille, Montpellier HSC, Olympique Lyonnais, RC Lens, SM Caen, Stade Rennais FC, Toulouse FC, Valenciennes FC | Tagged: Anthony Le Tallec, Chu Young Park, Daniel Braaten, Daniel Niculae, David Ducourtioux, David Sauget, Dianbobo Balde, Etienne Didot, Gaël Danic, Geoffrey Jourdren, Gregory Pujol, Hugo Lloris, Ireneusz Jelen, Jacques Faty, James Fanchone, Kevin Gameiro, Kevin Monnet-Paquet, Lynel Kitambala, Marvin Martin, Milan Bisevac, Rod Fanni, Romain Danze, Rudy Mater, Sigamary Diarra, Toifilou Maoulida, Vedran Runje, Youssef El-Arabi | Comments Off
Ligue 1 Matchday 18 Saturday Preview
Can young gun Youssef El-Arabi pull Caen from the Ligue 1 cellar?
Well, another week of Ligue 1 action, and finally the top five favorites for the Ligue 1 title are first through fifth. And, of course, three of those teams will play on Sunday, with the big Marseille vs. Lyon match looming.
So, lets dive right into the previews for Saturday’s matches.
Lens vs. Caen – Yes, a match that will basically mean absolutely nothing. The winner “might” move out of the relegation zone, while the loser, of course, will stay in the relegation zone. This is a sad fact considering many people had higher hopes for these teams, at least finishing at mid-table.
One interesting thing regarding this match is that Vedran Runje is expected to be part of the Lens team on Saturday. After a clash with Lens supporters after the teams 3-0 loss to Lorient on the road, Runje was said to have been punished by Gervais Martel regarding the incident. But, it seems like being suspended from playing isn’t part of the punishment. Still, it will be interesting to see how the crowd at Lens, who are always amongst the most vocal in Ligue 1, will react if Runje gets the start, which is expected.
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Filed under: AJ Auxerre, AS Monaco FC, AS Saint-Etienne, FC Lorient, Ligue 1 Commentary, Montpellier HSC, OGC Nice, Paris Saint Germain, RC Lens, SM Caen, Stade Brestois 29, Stade Rennais FC, Toulouse FC, Uncategorized, Valenciennes FC | Tagged: Chu Young Park, Geoffrey Jourdren, Kevin Gameiro, Nene, Nolan Roux, Olivier Sorin, Vedran Runje, Youssef El-Arabi | 1 Comment »