Weekend Ligue 1 Predictions: Best bets for the weekend

Ligue 1 returns to action this weekend, and with its resumption are a couple of huge games between some of the biggest clubs in France's top-flight.

The weekend is bookended by Monaco's trip to PSG on Friday night and Lyon-Lille on Sunday evening, while other games to keep a close eye on are leaders Nice vs Toulouse, and Rennes - with Julien Stephan making his return as manager - facing Will Still's Reims.

We've picked out our best bets for this weekend's action in France...

Strasbourg vs Marseille (Saturday, 20:00)

The international break will have acted as a welcome respite for Strasbourg and Marseille, with the former winless in their last five in Ligue 1 and the latter with just four points during the same period.

Strasbourg, though, appear to have turned a corner, of sorts. Patrick Vieira's side have drawn their last two games after losing their previous three, and their form over six games at home - two wins, two draws, two defeats - is solid, if unspectacular.

Despite sitting 15th in the league, one place above the dreaded drop-zone, Strasbourg are only one point behind 10th-placed Marseille, who have the joint-worst away record in the division (two points from six games, level with Lorient).

The ten-time champions have had an awful time of it on the road, though it should be noted that their four defeats have come against PSG, Monaco, Nice and Lens. Draws at Nantes and Metz are less acceptable, however, and a mere five goals on their travels is unlikely to frighten the home side ahead of Saturday.

Strasbourg held Marseille to a 2-2 draw at Stade de la Meinau last season, and while I think they can go one better tomorrow, the insurance policy of 'draw no bet' is a valuable one to have, given they are still without a win since September 24th.

Montpellier vs Brest (Sunday, 14:00)

The goals have dried up a bit recently for Montpellier who, after scoring in five of their first seven games of the campaign, have only scored in one of their last four matches.

However, against a Brest side who have lost their last three - conceding six goals in the process - there should be confidence in the Montpellier attacking ranks that they can return to their early-season form.

Crucial to their tally of 15 goals - higher than all but one bottom-half side - has been Nigerian striker Akor Adams, who has scored seven goals in Ligue 1 after moving from Lillestrom in Norway during the summer.

The 23-year-old is responsible for four of their last six goals, and he should be relishing the opportunity to inflict further misery on the Brest defence.

Lille to beat Lyon (Sunday, 19;45)

Despite claiming their first victory of the season - which ended a 10-game winless run this term - just before the international break, I still remain hugely unconvinced by Lyon.

As good as a 1-0 win at Rennes sounds on paper, the reality is that they were playing against a team with 10 men for almost the entirety of the game, following Guela Doue's red card in the 5th minute. It still took Fabio Grosso's side until the 67th minute to get their goal against a team who hadn't won in four Ligue 1 games themselves, and whose manager Bruno Genesio subsequently departed.

Lille, meanwhile, are in fourth after a nine-game unbeaten run across all competitions. Paulo Fonseca's side have struggled for away wins in Ligue 1 this season, winning just once in six games, but they've only lost one of them.

Les Douges will be emboldened by the home record of Lyon, who have lost three and drawn three of their six at Parc Olymique Lyonnais. Gross will also be without the services of experienced full-back Nicolas Tagliafico, who is suspended for Sunday, while there are doubts over the availability of Corentin Tolisso.

The signs are far from positive for Lyon, who have won only one of the last 13 league head-to-heads with Lille.

Check out the rest of our Football Betting Tips here.