A busy slate of mid-week games means a less crowded Ligue 1 fixture list over the weekend, with all seven games taking place on Sunday and one lonely little match on Monday. Saturday is still a big day though, with Lille looking to claim the French Cup against PSG and sew up the first half of a major double.
Saturday
PSG vs. Lille (Coupe de France Final, Stade de France)
Time: 20:45 CET/2:45 PM EDT
It's been a magical season for Lille, and they've got a legitimate chance to hoist two very important trophies over the next few weeks with their first opportunity coming against PSG this weekend. PSG are still chasing the final Champions League spot, but by their standards this season would be far more acceptable should they manage to keep hold of the Coupe.
Lille are a joy to watch and PSG are the professional, refined old guard of French football. This is a massive game with the potential to be a big part of a tremendous underdog's story. This is as can't-miss as it gets.
Pick: Lille, 3-2
Sunday
Arles vs. Toulouse
Time: 17:00 CET/11:00 AM EDT
Arles have picked up 65% of their points at home on the season, which sounds like bad news for Toulouse until you realize that Arles have 14 points. That'd be like Pontiac pointing out that the Aztek sold especially well in Nevada. It's all but meaningless.
Yes, that was a Pntiac Aztek joke. A car that existed for a very brief time a decade ago, made by an automotive company that no longer exists. If you can find a more fitting analogy for Arles, I'd love to hear it.
Pick: Toulouse, 2-0
AS Monaco vs. Lens
Time: 17:00 CET/11:00 AM EDT
This is, as they say, a six-pointer, with Lens looking to build off a surprise win over Bordeaux and Monaco reeling after a waxing at the hands of Sochaux. Lens have a real chance to pull of a great escape, while Monaco could find themselves shock relegation candidates and oh my God these teams are so boring if anyone scores it will be a miracle.
Pick: Draw, 0-0
AS Nancy Lorraine vs. Nice
Time: 17:00 CET/11:00 AM EDT
Yet another game with huge relegation battle implications. Does it seem like I say that a lot? It's because I do. The bottom half of this table is absolutely insane. The entire league aside from Lille, Marseille, Lyon and PSG are somehow going to end up being relegated and Standard Liege will win the treble next season.
Pick: Nancy, 2-1
Caen vs. Montpellier
Time: 17:00 CET/11:00 AM EDT
Caen is a yo-yo team in every sense of the word but they appear to be walking the dog at the moment, staying just above the drop. They've got one hell of a slate to close out the season, with this weekend's home match with Montpellier likely their best chance for three points for the rest of the season. Montpellier is very much a difficult team to get a handle on,but they'll be in good spirits after a 3-1 win over Lorient midweek. Luckily for Caen, Montpellier can only score more than one goal a game once a month, so if they can find the net they'll be good for at least a point.
Pick: Draw, 1-1
St. Etienne vs. Stade Rennes
Time: 17:00 CET/11:00 AM EDT
Stade Rennes have somehow managed 18 points away from home despite scoring just 12 goals. St. Etienne has been strong at home, scoring more than anyone outside of the European places. Unfortunately boring usually triumphs so this game will probably be awful.
Pick: Draw, 1-1
Valenciennes vs. AJ Auxerre
Time: 17:00 CET/11:00 AM EDT
Draw.
Pick: Draw, Who Cares-Who Cares
Lorient vs. Marseille
Time: 21:00 CET/3:00 PM EDT
Lorient has been the Ligue 1 version of that huge swarm of flies you always see buzzing around lions in nature videos all year long. They haven't always brought them down but they've always managed to be annoying, and eventually someone is going to come down with sleeping sickness.
Pick: Lorient, 2-1
Monday
Brest vs. Lyon
Time: 21:00 CET/3:00 PM EDT
Lyon have come on fairly strong as of late, but their...regrettable start to the season has them in a dogfight with PSG for the final Champions League spot. This is as close to a must-win as you'll find if Lyon hope to salvage something of this season, and while the team's luck has been such that even hearing the words 'must-win' probably has Claude Puel weeping softly in the corner, Lyon is playing Brest, who are fairly awful.
Also, Yoann Gourcuff is dead, right? I mean, I know he scored that winner a few weeks ago, but this is some sort of Weekend At Bernie's scenario, isn't it? Someone shake down Michel Bastos and Ederson for marionette string.
Pick: Lyon, 2-0