Champions League qualification will be the main topic on Sunday, as five teams are still in contention for the last direct spot in Ligue 1.
Three of the teams in question – Lille, Marseille, and Rennes – are scheduled to play on Sunday, and all three will face bottom-half teams. In the remaining two fixtures, we have a clash between relegation-threatened Le Havre and Metz, and a curious mid-table battle between Lorient and Strasbourg.
Continue reading below for our expert tips and predictions for all five Ligue 1 fixtures.
Today’s Ligue 1 betting tips & predictions
Lorient vs. Strasbourg (2pm)
Although mathematically there’s still a chance, both Lorient and Strasbourg likely realize they have no way of finishing in the top six this year.
Still, we’re sure they’ll want to finish as high as possible, but Strasbourg has a Conference League semifinal on Thursday, and we expect them to prefer saving their energy for that match.
On top of that, Lorient have been one of the strongest home teams this season, being the only side with just one loss at home. For these reasons, we’re giving them the edge in this match.
Lorient vs. Strasbourg top betting tip: Lorient to win
Le Havre vs. Metz (4:15pm)
Le Havre have a crucial opportunity to virtually secure their survival when they host Metz, for whom a loss would mean certain relegation.
Le Havre have certainly shown improvement recently, especially in their home matches, having lost only once to PSG in their last seven games at Stade Océane. Metz, on the other hand, have just one away win this season, and in their last five away games, they haven’t even scored a goal.
It’s hard not to back the home team, even though Metz haven’t lost a single one of their last four H2Hs against Le Havre. We’re expecting a narrow home win.
Le Havre vs. Metz top betting tip: Le Havre to win
Paris FC vs. Lille (4:15pm)
Paris FC are having a great end to the season and could even finish in the top half of the table. This match, however, will be very difficult because Lille are fighting for a Champions League spot and can’t afford any mistakes.
It’s surprising just how many goals Paris FC are scoring, even though most of their recent matches have been against weaker teams. Their recent 4-1 home win over Monaco, who are also in the race for the Champions League, is particularly impressive.
Lille can also boast of being in good scoring form, with few exceptions, so the best bet we can make in this match is on goals. The first match between the teams this season ended 4-2.
Paris FC vs. Lille top betting tip: Over 2.5 goals
Rennes vs. Nantes (4:15pm)
Rennes have found the right formula at just the right time, and with three straight wins under their belt, they are on the verge of qualifying for the Champions League. Nantes, on the other hand, are on the brink of relegation, needing wins in each of their remaining matches.
However, beating Rennes on the road seems almost impossible on paper, especially if we look at the history between the two teams. Nantes have only three wins in their last 25 head-to-head matches, and none of those wins came on the road. Their last win at this stadium dates back to 2013.
Rennes are in great form, and we should take advantage of that in a match like this. The odds aren’t ideal, but if we combine the win with over 1.5 goals, we get a decent payout.
Rennes vs. Nantes top betting tip: Rennes & Over 1.5 goals
Marseille vs. Nice (7:45pm)
The Mediterranean derby doesn’t carry the same intensity this season, mainly because Nice are on the wrong side of the table, while Marseille are fighting for a Champions League spot.
But at the same time, Nice reached the Coupe de France final this week and could end the season with a trophy, even if they get relegated. Marseille’s form isn’t perfect, but they remain the third-strongest home team in the league.
They also won the first match against Nice with a dominant 5-1, so we’ll stick with the same prediction that we gave for the previous match: a home win and over 1.5 goals.
Marseille vs. Nice top betting tip: Marseille & Over 1.5 goals
Vladislav has been professionally engaged in freelance journalism for seven years and has worked with numerous leading sports publications. A football and martial arts fanatic, he spent years training in both disciplines before turning to writing.
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