Ligue 1 Predictions | Round 22: Rennes host Lille & PSG travel to Toulouse | OneFootball

Ligue 1 Predictions, Round 22

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: 113

Luke: 137

Game of the week: Stade Rennais v Lille OSC, Sunday 19:45 (UK)

There are signs of revival that were confirmed against Saint-Étienne last weekend. It was the first time all season that Les Rennais won back-to-back matches in Ligue 1 and they have effectively removed themselves from the relegation conversation. It isn’t spectacular and against Saint-Étienne they conceded plenty of chances, especially in the first half but just were not punished. But there has been a large squad rebuild, making up for the really poor summer recruitment and the technical level of the squad has increased. It puts them at a superior level to most clubs in Ligue 1 but not above Lille, that is for sure. To get something against Les Dogues, they will have to be better both on and off the ball than they have been in the last two matches. It is asking things of new manager Habib Beye, who is facing his first real challenge as a Ligue 1 manager.

But Lille are in an odd period too. Their 2-1 defeat to Le Havre – at home – was a huge shock. Bruno Genesio reacted furiously to the defeat but it is not abnormal to go through a period of inconsistency after a long unbeaten run is brought to an end, as happened in January. Prior to the loss to Liverpool on 21st January, they had not lost since mid-September. There is not quite a crisis of confidence but there is an uncertainty as to which Lille side will turn up and for a side like Rennes, who are trying to find their feet under their third manager of the season, there is reason for optimism. Expect both teams to score in what looks set to be a close encounter.

Raphaël’s full predictions

Luke’s full predictions

GFFN | Luke Entwistle