Weekend Ligue 1 Predictions: Best Bets for Gameweek 23 in France

All three suggestions in last week’s column fell just short as Reims failed to hold on to their lead against Lens, while Paris Saint-Germain and Stade Brest did beat Nantes and Olympique Marseille respectively, but managed to keep their sheets clean.

We’re back with Brest this weekend in our only Saturday shout, with the other two fixtures taking place on Sunday, one in the afternoon and one during the primetime evening slot.

RC Strasbourg vs Stade Brest (Saturday, 20:00)

Brest are arguably the story of the Ligue 1 season so far. After finishing 14th in the previous campaign, the Pirates have enjoyed a tremendous first 22 games to sit second heading into the weekend’s fixtures.

They broke out of a three-game winless run to beat Olympique Marseille last week, and only Paris Saint-Germain (27) and Monaco (19) have picked up more points away from home than Brest (18).

Strasbourg, meanwhile, are without a victory in their last four league outings, and they’ve lost each of their last two at home.

Patrick Vieira’s side have scored in nine of their 11 Ligue 1 matches at home this term, though, including in each of their last five in the competition.

15 points at Stade de la Meinau puts them middle of the pack for points won at home, while Brest haven’t won on the road in the league in 2024. They did draw both of those games, though, recording goalscoring stalemates against Clermont (1-1) and PSG (2-2).

If either team is to win on Saturday, Brest look the best bet, but with centre-forward Steve Mounie also serving a suspension this weekend, the double chance on them and BTTS – Yes looks the play here.

OGC Nice vs Clermont Foot (Sunday, 14:00)

Back-to-back defeats have sent Nice down into third, but they should be looking forward to Sunday’s clash at the Allianz Riviera.

Their opponents are bottom of the table and on just 16 points having won just three times in Ligue 1 this season. Only Marseille (seven) have claimed fewer points on the road than Clermont (nine).

All five of their away defeats have seen them losing heading into half-time, so this looks like a good game for Nice to rid themselves of any early nerves and take a lead into the interval.

The Eaglets won the reverse fixture 1-0 in October, and really should have been in front at half-time, but Gaetan Laborde fluffed his lines from the penalty spot.

Olympique Marseille vs Montpellier (Sunday, 19:45)

After the sacking of Gennaro Gattuso earlier in the week, Marseille responded superbly to win their first game under new head coach Jean-Louis Gasset, who masterminded a 3-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in their Europa League play-off tie.

That win at Stade Velodrome probably wasn’t too surprising given Marseille’s superb home record, though. The Olympians haven’t lost there this season, and it will be a tough ask for Montpellier to get anything from Sunday’s game.

The visitors head into this one on the back of a 3-0 victory over Ligue 1 strugglers Metz, but they’ve lost their last two league matches on the road.

Marseille have drawn their last three at home in Ligue 1, with both teams scoring in all three, but under new management, Sunday looks like a good opportunity to get maximum points in their pursuit of the European spots.

The home side’s defence still looks vulnerable, though, as they are eight games without a clean sheet in all competitions. Montpellier have scored in all four of their February fixtures so far and could grab another goal at the Stade Velodrome, but Marseille’s firepower should see them through.

Check out the rest of our Football Betting Tips here.