Saturday's Ligue 1 predictions including PSG vs. Metz

Angers vs. Montpellier (Saturday, 8.00pm)

Angers welcome Montpellier HSC to the Stade Raymond-Kopa in a mid-table dead rubber as the Ligue 1 campaign enters its final matchday on Saturday evening.

The two sides enter game number 38 14th and 13th in the table respectively, but it will be the hosts who are the more content with their finishing position.

We say: Angers 2-1 Montpellier HSC

This game is a tricky one to call with both sides having so little to play for. However, the visitors have the worse form and are feeling their key absences so we are backing a narrow home win.

Brest vs. Bordeaux (Saturday, 8.00pm)

An all-but-mathematically-relegated Bordeaux side head North to Brittany to take on Brest as Ligue 1 enters its final round of games on Saturday evening.

Les Girondins go to the Stade Francis-Le Ble knowing that even three points will almost certainly not save them from a shocking relegation.

We say: Brest 1-1 Bordeaux

Brest may have little left to play for but, realistically, that is also the case for Bordeaux. They will likely give it their all either way but Les Girondins simply have not been good enough this season and we do not expect them to end the campaign on a high so are backing a score draw.

Clermont vs. Lyon (Saturday, 8.00pm)

With only pride at stake for both teams on the final day of the Ligue 1 season, Clermont welcome Lyon to the Stade Gabriel-Montpied on Saturday night.

The hosts were assured of survival despite a 1-0 defeat to Strasbourg last time out, while Les Gones edged a tight contest with Nantes 3-2.

We say: Clermont 1-3 Lyon

Whether they end up on the winning or losing side, Lyon's goal-laden affairs are normally spectacular to watch, and this final-day meeting has a lot to live up to after the previous six-goal stalemate.

Neither side has much on the line this weekend, but Bosz's men may have an added incentive to end on a winning note given their disappointments this term, and the free-scoring Gones attack will expect to put Les Lanciers to the sword here.

Lens vs. Monaco (Saturday, 8.00pm)

Monaco will be looking to secure second spot in the Ligue 1 table when they finish their 2021-22 campaign away to top-five hopefuls Lens on Saturday night.

The visitors are currently second in the division, level on points with third-placed Marseille, while Lens occupy seventh, two points behind fifth-placed Strasbourg heading into the final set of fixtures.

We say: Lens 1-2 Monaco

This is a huge match for both teams, and it is set to be a fascinating battle on Saturday. Lens will be confident of picking up a positive result, but Monaco have been so impressive in recent weeks, and we are backing the visitors to secure a huge three points in this contest.

Lille vs. Rennes (Saturday, 8.00pm)

Dethroned Ligue 1 champions Lille end their disappointing 2021-22 campaign at home to Champions League hopefuls Rennes on Saturday night at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

The hosts got the better of Nice in a confidence-boosting 3-1 rout last time out, while Les Rouge et Noir kept their Champions League hopes alive by beating Marseille 2-0.

We say: Lille 1-2 Rennes

Lille's squad suddenly has a fuller feel to it as the trio of Sanches, Botman and Andre return from bans, but a somewhat makeshift XI still needed no second invitation to ease past Nice.

Rennes' ongoing defensive woes on the road is also a welcome statistic for the hosts, but the final third is where Genesio's side continue to excel, and we can only picture Les Rouge et Noir ending the season on top to take the Champions League race right down to the wire.

Lorient vs. Troyes (Saturday, 8.00pm)

Lorient and Troyes will bring their respective 2021-22 Ligue 1 campaigns to a close on Saturday evening with a clash at Stade du Moustoir.

Both sides are safe in France's top flight heading into the final matchday, with Lorient in 17th, four points clear of 18th-placed Metz, while Troyes occupy 15th position in the table.

We say: Lorient 1-1 Troyes

There is not an awful lot between these two teams in terms of quality, and there is no real pressure on either side heading into this match. It would not be a surprise to see a home or away win, but we believe that the two teams will play out a low-scoring draw on Saturday night.

Marseille vs. Strasbourg (Saturday, 8.00pm)

Two sides still left with plenty to fight for on the final day of the Ligue 1 season lock horns at the Orange Velodrome on Saturday night, as Marseille face off against Strasbourg.

The hosts will seal a top-three finish with just a point on their own turf, while Julien Stephan's side have not given up hope of a place in the Europa League.

We say: Marseille 1-1 Strasbourg

Marseille's levels of creative ingenuity and attacking incisiveness decrease dramatically when Payet is not on the pitch, and Strasbourg would do well to capitalise on this opportunity at a ground where the hosts have not enjoyed a strong period of success.

That being said, Stephan's side have not dominated many games in recent memory and have developed an affinity for draws on the road, so we can envisage this battle ending all square as Marseille clinch a top-three spot, while Strasbourg will nervously learn of results elsewhere.

Nantes vs. St Etienne (Saturday, 8.00pm)

A Saint-Etienne side fighting for their Ligue 1 lives head to Stade de la Beaujoire on Saturday evening for the French league's final round of games.

The visitors are sat 19th in the table, but level on points with Metz above them, whilst the hosts have had a far more comfortable run-in up in the top half.

We say: Nantes 2-2 Saint-Etienne

Too many times in recent weeks, Les Verts have stormed into a lead only to then give away numerous goals - they score a fair few, but they tend to concede at least as many. Even with Nantes coasting to the end of the season, we can see that being the case again here and so are backing a high-scoring draw.

PSG vs. Metz (Saturday, 8.00pm)

Paris Saint-Germain will endeavour to end the 2021-22 Ligue 1 season with a flourish when they welcome Metz to the Parc des Princes on Saturday night.

The champions can move onto 86 points with a victory, while Les Grenats are already condemned to a bottom-three finish but can still avoid automatic relegation.

We say: Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 Metz

Lyon made the mistake of underestimating a Metz side fighting for their lives earlier this month, but De Preville's absence is a bitter blow, and the visitors have not been able to stop the rut away from home.

The pressure is firmly off a healthy PSG squad at their headquarters, and Pochettino's side will expect to round off a tumultuous season with a straightforward victory to leave Metz praying for results elsewhere to go their way.

Reims vs. Nice (Saturday, 8.00pm)

After a painful loss last time out, Nice will look to bounce back against Reims as the Ligue 1 season reaches its finale on Saturday evening.

The visitors head to the Stade Auguste-Delaune II knowing they are now fighting for the top five rather than the top three, whilst their hosts sit fairly content in mid table.

We say: Reims 0-1 Nice

Nice's team spirit will have been thoroughly tested by a fortnight in which they lost the Coupe de France final and then fell out of the fight for the Ligue 1 podium. They have also not drawn any of their last eight games and we are backing that all-or-nothing streak to continue with a win here. Whether or not that will prove to be enough for a European spot remains to be seen.