Before the Round – Trends on Ligue 1 (27-28/08)

24/08/22 1599

Ligue 1 moves into round No. 4 this weekend with Strasbourg and Nantes trying to move away from the bottom four. Meanwhile, Clermont Foot are flying high in fifth place and three points off of league leader Paris Saint-Germain.

AJ Auxerre - RC Strasbourg

Auxerre, promoted from Ligue 2 last season, host struggling Strasbourg on Saturday. These teams have not met since 2017 but Strasbourg hold the edge with a record of 3W-1D-2L.

Strasbourg have two points from nine on offer in the league. Racing have scored just three goals and conceded four times. Their last two games finished as draws.

Auxerre are coming off of a win 2-1 win versus Montpellier. The newly-promoted team is unbeaten in two straight games and have four points from nine on offer.

• AJ Auxerre have drawn all of their last 3 home league matches.
• Strasbourg are unbeaten in 25 of their last 30 matches in Ligue 1.
• In their last 6 games in Ligue 1, AJ Auxerre have a poor record of just 1 wins.
• Strasbourg's performance has been disappointing of late, as they have won just 1 of their 8 most recent away Ligue 1 clashes.
• Prediction: Draw @3.50

RC Lens - Stade Rennais

Lens host Rennes on Saturday with both sides seeking a massive three points. The last six games between these teams have been split down the middle with Lens claiming two wins, Rennes winning twice, and two draws occurring.

Lens are second in the Ligue 1 table. The Yellow and Red are unbeaten in three straight games in the league and go into the weekend fresh off of a 4-1 away win against Monaco.

Rennes, on the other hand, have taken four points from nine on offer. The Black and Red defeated Ajaccio 2-1 in round No. 3.

• RC Lens have not been beaten in their last 11 straight clashes in Ligue 1.
• In their last 8 away matches from Ligue 1, Stade Rennais have seen both teams score.
• In RC Lens's 9 most recent clashes with Stade Rennais in Ligue 1, there have been under 2.5 goals.
• Stade Rennais have managed just 1 wins in their last 6 away league games.
• Prediction: Both to score - Yes @1.67

FC Nantes – Toulouse

Nantes have a record of 4W-0D-2L against Toulouse in the teams’ last six head-to-head encounters. These teams last met in the 2020-21 relegation/promotion playoff in which Nantes won thanks to away goals.

Toulouse, newly promoted from Ligue 2, have taken five points from nine on offer and sit in the top six. The Purple have played well since returning to Ligue 1. A strong start could see Toulouse end any fear of relegation early on.

Nantes have taken a mere two points from nine on offer. Goals have been hard to come by with just two scored and three conceded. The Canaries are coming off of a 2-1 loss to Marseille.

• In their last 12 home games in Ligue 1, FC Nantes have recorded 11 undefeated encounters.
• Toulouse FC's stats show they have won just 2 of their 12 most recent clashes against FC Nantes (Ligue 1).
• FC Nantes have managed just 1 wins in their last 7 league games.
• Toulouse FC have won just 2 of their last 6 encounters with FC Nantes.
• Prediction: Draw @3.30

Lorient - Clermont Foot 63

Lorient have a record of 3W-2D-1L against Clermont Foot in their last six matches. However, Clermont are flying high in Ligue 1 with six points from nine on offer.

After a 5-0 loss to PSG on matchday No. 1, Clermont have won back-to-back games against Reims and Nice.

Lorient have played just two games as their matchday No. 2 fixture with Lyon was postponed. Still, they have picked up four points from six on offer. Last time out, Lorient drew 2-2 with Toulouse.

• FC Lorient's performance has been disappointing of late, as they have won just 3 of their 16 most recent home Ligue 1 clashes.
• Clermont Foot have won just 1 of their last 6 head-to-head fixtures against FC Lorient.
• FC Lorient have achieved just 1 wins in their 7 most recent games in Ligue 1.
• Clermont Foot managed to win just 2 of their last 7 away games in all competitions.
• Prediction: Clermont Foot @3.50