Saturday's Ligue 1 predictions including Lens vs. Lille

Angers vs. St Etienne (Saturday, 4.00pm)

Angers will looking to climb out of the Ligue 1 relegation zone when they welcome Saint-Etienne to Stade Raymond Kopa on Saturday afternoon.

This contest will see the two lowest-scoring teams in the French top flight go head to head, with both clubs having found the net just six times in their opening eight games.

We say: Angers 0-1 Saint-Etienne

There is little to separate these two teams and a tight affair could be in store this weekend, but Saint-Etienne have kept five clean sheets in their last seven meetings with Angers and we can see them edging this contest without reply.

Reims vs. Brest (Saturday, 6.00pm)

Two Ligue 1 teams seeking to return to winning ways square off at Stade Auguste-Delaune II on Saturday evening as Reims play host to Brest.

While the hosts were beaten by Auxerre in their most recent top-flight fixture, the visitors shared the spoils with Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Wednesday.

We say: Reims 1-1 Brest

Games involving Reims and Brest have often been tight affairs over the years, with only three of the last 15 meetings seeing more than two goals scored, and another closely-fought contest could be in store this weekend.

Although Brest have struggled away from home so far this season, we are backing them to claim at least a share of the spoils with Reims on this occasion.

Lens vs. Lille (Saturday, 8.00pm)

Only the goals scored column is separating Lens and Lille in the top half of the Ligue 1 standings heading into Saturday night's showdown at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis.

Bruno Genesio's side return to domestic action on the back of a magnificent 3-1 Champions League win over Atletico Madrid, while their hosts ended a run of draws by beating Saint-Etienne 2-0 last weekend.

We say: Lens 1-1 Lille

Lens have not managed to find the back of the net in their last two Ligue 1 home games, but facing a leggy and injury-ravaged Lille side might be the hosts' ticket to halting that toothless streak in front of goal.

However, one trend we cannot see ending is the hosts' propensity to play out draws, as Genesio's men have been steadily building momentum over the past few weeks and should be good enough to avoid defeat.