Ligue 1 Predictions | Round 33 | OneFootball

Ligue 1 Predictions, Round 33

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: 161

Luke: 174

Game of the week: OGC Nice v Le Havre AC, Friday 20:00 (UK)

It will be a special game for Le Havre manager Luka Elsner in more ways than one. Elsner’s father, Marko played for OGC Nice, whilst he himself, having grown up in the Mediterranean city, also began his own playing career with Les Aiglons. The Franco-Slovenian manager is therefore well regarded by the Nice fans, whilst he himself naturally has a level of affection for the club.

He will have to put that aside temporarily. Le Havre, after a crucial 3-1 victory over Strasbourg, have given themselves a strong chance of ensuring their safety in Ligue 1. The win against a tired and lethargic RCSA side puts them three points ahead of Metz, who occupy the relegation play-off spot. Just a point against Nice could be enough to secure their survival, if other results go their way.

They come up against a Nice side that have rediscovered form at just the right time and that are scoring goals with increasing frequency. Having struggled to find the back of the net consistently since the beginning of the campaign, Francesco Farioli’s side have eight goals in their last three games. Players who have struggled are coming good, notably Khéphren Thuram, who is making a late push to be part of France’s Euros squad, and Mohamed-Ali Cho, who looked bereft of confidence when he first arrived in January. Le Gym’s ability to win the ball in dangerous positions and either transition vertically or sustain pressure in the final third is paying dividends and there is a nicer balance to this side. Some defensive solidity has been sacrificed but it is a fair trade-off.

Raphaël’s full predictions

Luke’s full predictions

GFFN | Luke Entwistle