Ligue 1 Predictions | Round 9 – Le Classique, Derby de la Cote d’Azur and Derby du Nord | OneFootball

Ligue 1 Predictions, Round 9

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: 46

Luke: 54

Game of the week: Olympique de Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain, Sunday 19:45 (UK)

These two sides come into this match with contrasting confidence. OM approach the game off the back of a 5-0 hammering of Montpellier. It was a game in which Roberto De Zerbi’s side looked more well-balanced. There were plenty of goals, efficiency importantly, but also control in the midfield. Adrien Rabiot, starting his first game for OM since his move, made a big difference and looked completely at ease alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. That has the makings of a very strong partnership.

PSG, however, were held to a draw against PSV in midweek. Questions are beginning to be asked about this PSG side, despite the recent extension of Luis Enrique’s contract as manager. Without Kylian Mbappé, Thierry Henry believes that Les Parisiens lack “that bit of magic“, whilst he has also questioned the youthfulness, in other words, the lack of experience in this side. That is seemingly costing them in the Champions League. But Mbappé’s absence can also be felt in Ligue 1; PSG are crying out for that clutch player, that instinctive finisher, to bail them out. Bradley Barcola is currently Ligue 1’s top scorer, but his finishing can be erratic and he was not supposed to be the player to bear the burden of banging in the goals. Luis Enrique’s indecision in the No.9 position is telling; no candidate has overwhelmingly convinced and without a clear choice in this position, PSG’s form in Europe is struggling.

It is far from doom and gloom at the Parc des Princes, but there is at least doubt. Marseille, with their impressive attacking arsenal, certainly have the capacity to exploit that, especially at a Vélodrome that will be at boiling point with OM able to go top of Ligue 1, if they beat PSG by a big margin.

Raphaël’s full predictions

Luke’s full predictions

GFFN | Luke Entwistle