Ligue 1 Predictions | Round 17: Jorge Sampaoli faces former club as Rennes face OM, PSG take on ASSE | OneFootball

Ligue 1 Predictions, Round 17

GFFN editor-in-chief  Luke Entwistle and GFFN’s  Raphaël Jucobin face off in our Ligue 1 predictions competition. It’s three points for a correct score, two points for a correct score difference, and one point for a correct result. Who will come out on top at the end of the season?

SCORES

Raphaël: 90

Luke: 101

Game of the week: Stade Rennais v OGC Nice, Saturday 20:05 (UK)

Perhaps it isn’t quite time for the alarm bells to ring but something is not right at Rennes. Jorge Sampaoli is a tempestuous character. He isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but he does at least tend to galvanise a dressing room. That is not the case at Rennes, contrary to what we saw at this weekend’s opponents, Marseille. “We were punished for unforced errors,” said Sampaoli after a 3-2 defeat to Nice. That was largely a reference to Steve Mandanda’s howler, which handed Nice’s second goal on a plate for Sofiane Diop. But it was a kind assessment of SRFC’s performance. Quite simply, they weren’t proactive enough to deserve any kind of result and it feels odd to say that about a Sampaoli side. There therefore hasn’t been the short-term galvanising effect that the Argentine is renowned for. To make up for their deficiencies across the pitch, there is a big recruitment drive. Seko Fofana is already back and has already made his debut for his new club. He could make his first start for OM and judging by what he showed in his limited minutes last weekend, he could make a difference.

Enough to beat Marseille? That remains to be seen. Often poor at home, Marseille swept Le Havre aside ruthlessly (5-1). They were never in danger of not winning that match and the signs were overwhelmingly positive. Not only was it another win at home as they continue to build in confidence at the Vélodrome, it was also a win against a low-blocking, highly defensive side, against the likes OM have struggled under Roberto De Zerbi. OM have now scored five goals in a game on three occasions under Marseille. Unlike Rennes, they are an exciting proposition and they are proactive in games. The contrast is stark. Based on recent form and on the quality of the respective sides, it seems that only one result is possible.

Raphaël’s full predictions

Luke’s full predictions

GFFN | Luke Entwistle