Following the winter break, action in France’s Ligue 1 resumes on Friday. Eight matches are set for matchday 16, with PSG and Monaco both among the big hitters that won’t be in action this weekend. You can find our Ligue 1 soccer picks for the fixtures taking place between January 3 and 5, here.
Ligue 1 Picks
Nice vs. Rennes
Interestingly, Nice and Rennes collide to start a calendar year for the third straight occasion. Nice have won 43 of the previous matches against Rennes; their most against a single opponent. The hosts have also scored in each of their last nine Ligue 1 fixtures.
Meanwhile, Rennes have won two of their last three. However, the home side have a dominant record this term at Allianz Riviera, and that trend is worth following this Friday.
St. Etienne vs. Reims
St. Etienne have suffered defeats in four of their last six top-flight matches against Reims. The hosts have also suffered ten losses in 15 matches this season, which is their most at this stage of a campaign since 2008-09.
Reims have struggled in front of goal in recent weeks, playing out three matches without scoring. Therefore, there could be interest in St. Etienne winning a fifth match in eight at home.
Lille vs. Nantes
Lille have avoided defeat against Nantes in every match between the sides since September 2016. That 17-game run is their longest against any single opponent in French soccer.
Lille have also avoided defeat in their last 17 matches across all competitions this season, winning ten times over that period. Nantes have won just once in their last 12, meaning that the writing could be on the wall for the visitors.
Lyon vs. Montpellier
Montpellier have suffered defeats in five of their last six against Lyon, but the home side haven’t started a calendar year with a victory in the last three years.
However, Montpellier’s struggles were evident in the Coupe de France last time out, as they were humbled 4-0 by a third-tier side. Therefore, Lyon look more than capable of landing maximum points in this fixture.
Strasbourg vs. Auxerre
Strasbourg are unbeaten in their last four matches against Auxerre, and they have kept clean sheets in their last three home matches against their rivals.
Defensively, the hosts have also been strong in recent weeks, keeping shut outs in their last two. Auxerre have taken just four of their 17 points away from home this season, meaning more misery on the road could be incoming this weekend.
Lens vs. Toulouse
Lens have recorded victories in their last six matches against Toulouse in Ligue 1. In fact, Toulouse have failed to score in 50% of their matches against their opponents in the 21st century.
Lens have scored at least twice in each of their last three league matches, and they have recorded wins in two of their last three at home.
Angers vs. Brest
Angers have suffered defeats in each of their last two at Stade Raymond Kopa, but they haven’t lost three on the bounce since February 2023.
Meanwhile, they have failed to score in their last two. Brest recorded an excellent 4-1 win over Nantes before the turn of the year, but they have suffered defeats in their last three on the road. A draw could be an interesting angle on Sunday.
Marseille vs. Le Havre
Marseille have avoided defeat in their last 20 league matches against Le Havre, while they have suffered just one home defeat in their last 20 at Stade Velodrome against their opponents.
The hosts have won nine of their 15 matches this season, while Le Havre have failed to score more frequently in Ligue 1 than any other team in 2024-25.
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