Sports

Ligue 1 predictions: Round 17

Scores

Raphaël: 79

Luke: 74

Game of the week: RC Lens v PSG, Sunday 19:45 (UK)

Luke: Ligue 1’s New Years’ schedule is packed with great fixtures. First will face second at the Bollaert-Delelis on New Year’s Day in what will be a tricky tie for Paris Saint-Germain. Christophe Galtier’s arrive off the back of a very narrow victory against Strasbourg and will do so without Neymar, Lionel Messi and Marco Verratti. Those absences complicate what is already a tricky task, with RC Lens returning home for the first time since the World Cup break. An intense atmosphere and a difficult match await the reigning Ligue 1 champions.

Some of the chasing pack also have difficult ties. AS Monaco should make short work out of Stade Brestois, but Marseille may struggle away to Montpellier, and Lille will find it difficult against a resurgent Reims. Led by Will Still and the in-form Folarin Balogun, Reims have just ended Rennes’ 17-game unbeaten run, and they will be looking to pull off another scalp. Rennes versus Nice could also be a thrilling encounter, with both sides desperately in need of points in their respective quests for European football next season. Finally, can Lorient get back on track against managerless Angers, who currently sit bottom of Ligue 1?

Raphaël’s full predictions:

Monaco 2-0 Brest

Angers 0-1 Lorient

Toulouse 2-1 Ajaccio

Nantes 1-1 Auxerre

Lyon 3-1 Clermont

Lens 2-1 PSG

Strasbourg 2-2 Troyes

Lille 2-3 Reims

Montpellier 1-2 Marseille

Rennes 3-1 Nice

Luke’s full predictions: