The rest of the important action takes place at the crowded lower end of the table, with Dijon-Valenciennes, Caen-Auxerre and Ajaccio-Nice all facing off in games that could drastically change the face of the relegation battle.
In a combined 42 games, these teams have scored 45 goals and allowed 48 between them. That's 1.07 goals for per game, 1.14 goals against per game. But yeah, you should get up earlier than you do for work to watch this. Totally.
Pick: St. Etienne, 1-0
via hotdoghalloweencostume.net
(Yes, I know Dijon's kits are red. Shut up.)
Rennes persist in hanging around the top of the table, but with Marseille now ahead of them the odds of a European tour seem unlikely. Shame too, because Rennes is a fun team that could probably make a run at Europa or take an unsuspecting team or two by surprise and eke their way into the Champions League knockout stages. The positive there is that no one will be deprived of whatever garish abomination of a third kit Marseille and Lyon decide to run with next season.
Pick: Rennes, 3-1
Pass
Pick: Draw, 0-0
My crush on Montpellier isn't exactly a secret, nor is my disdain for clubs like Brest who play boring, negative football and play into negative stereotypes about a league that's actually quite entertaining overall. In a just world, Montpellier would lay a thorough whipping down in this game. Of course, in a just world Montpellier would still be at the top of the league and Antoine Kombouaré would still have a job.
Pick: Montpellier, 3-0
As good as PSG is, there's generally little point in watching their games (unless you're a Javier Pastore fetishist, which is completely understandable.) They've got plenty of excellent players, but they still beat every team the same exact, clinical way and nine times out of ten they don't get out of second gear in doing it. The only compelling thing about them is how easy they are not to like.
Pick: PSG, 2-0
The thing about this game is that...
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...oh I'm sorry I appear to have fallen asleep.
Pick: Draw, 0-0
If you read this matchup backwards it sounds like a redneck affirming his ability to complete a task. (Assuming your French pronunciation is terrible.)
Pick: Caen, 2-1
Lille's hold on a Champions League place feel quite tenuous, so they'll be quite happy to see Sochaux on the calendar this weekend. There's really nothing else to add; Sochaux is just a really bad team and if Lille can't pick up three points against teams this poor they're not going to be going to Europe at all.
Pick: Lille, 3-1
It's been a long road back from a pretty disastrous start from L'OM, but if there is still any remaining doubt that this isn't one of the two best teams in France Marseille can kill it off this weekend. This is clearly a huge game for Lyon as well given the tightly packed top 6, but for Marseille a win would put an exclamation point on an absolutely tremendous run of form. If you're a fan of big, important matches between established powers, this makes a nice double-header with the earlier Chelsea-Manchester United game.
Pick: Marseille, 3-1
Ligue 1 Saturday, Week 21: Paris Saint-Germain Extend Lead, Montpellier Keep Pace
Paris Saint-Germain kept their three-point lead on top of Ligue 1 with a victory on Saturday afternoon, but Montpellier continue to keep pace and prevent PSG from running away with the title. They were the only two teams among the league's top five in action on Saturday, and they appear to be separating themselves and creating a clear first and second tier in the table in France.
AS Nancy 0-0 Rennes
Because of snow, this match was moved up four hours. That probably affected preparation and the players' schedules, or at least that's what the play indicated in this one. Rennes' push for a European place will have been hurt by this result against a relegation candidate.
Dijon 1-2 Valenciennes
In France's jumbled relegation race, this match was huge for both sides. Valenciennes are now all the way up to 12th in the table with this win, but are still only four points above the drop. Dijon now sit in 16th, three points above the drop zone. The score is closer than the match was, as Dijon's goal came in stoppage time through Gregory Thil. The visitors went up 2-0 in the first half and did well to sit on their lead.
AC Ajaccio 1-1 Nice
These teams both have bad defenses and excellent goalkeepers. So, of course, both David Ospina and Guillermo Ochoa let in a goal when the two teams combined for THREE total shots on target. Someone please get Memo and Ospina off these teams.
Montpellier 1-0 Brest
This is about the most predictable result ever. Montpellier were the much better team, but only scored once. Brest didn't look good, but always looked a threat for a point. Fun fact: Brest have 12 draws this season. Geoffrey Dernis scored the winner in the 40th minute, assisted by Rémy Cabella.
Bordeaux 2-0 Toulouse
Jussie scored for Bordeaux in the opening minute, new signing Ludovic Obraniak scored on a free kick in the 40th minute, and Moussa Sissoko was sent off three minutes later. No word yet on whether or not they actually bothered to play the second half.
Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 Evian
Just before the end of a very uneventful first half, Cédric Cambon put Evian up 1-0 following a corner kick. This, apparently, pissed off a previously lethargic PSG side. Nene equalized just two minutes into the second half, but it would take until the 79th minute for them to take the lead. Jeremy Menez drew a penalty and Nene converted, putting his team ahead. Kevin Gamiero iced the game with an 89th minute goal.
Saint-Etienne vs. Lorient was abandoned due to unplayable weather.
Feb 04 10:25p by Kevin McCauley - 0 comments