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Lille versus Nantes on Friday kicks off what should be a great weekend of action in Ligue 1. The French soccer league keeps Matchday 2 going on Saturday when AS Monaco hosts Stade Rennes and Paris Saint-Germain welcomes Montpellier. On Sunday, Nice takes on Strasbourg. Keep reading for Ligue 1 Odds and free picks for six of this weekend’s best French Ligue 1 matchups.

Top French Ligue 1 Games to Watch This Week (August 12th – 14th)

Lille OSC +159 vs FC Nantes +179

When: Friday, August 12 at 1:00 pm ET

Nantes played well in their Matchday 1 game, drawing 1-1 with Angers. The home team deserves a look based on the effort.

But Nantes should have trouble beating road squad Lille. The 2020 Ligue 1 champions dominated AJ Auxerre in their first match. Lille is back to being one of the best teams in French Ligue 1. They start the season 2-0.

Soccer Pick: Lille OSC

Stade Rennes +218 vs AS Monaco +120

When: Saturday, August 13 at 9:00 am ET

Road team Stade Rennes is in tough. AS Monaco lost their last match, a Champions League qualifying game, against PSV Eindhoven. But before falling to Eindhoven, Monaco had beaten Strasbourg 2-1 on August 6.

Stade Rennes enters this on a 3-game losing streak. 2 of the losses were club friendlies. But even if we don’t count the loss to Freiburg and the one to Aston Villa, how does the road underdog explain dropping a home match to Lorient? Monaco gets the nod.

Soccer Pick: AS Monaco

Montpellier HSC +2.5 +106 vs Paris Saint-Germain -2.5 -134

When: Saturday, August 13 at 1:00 pm ET

Montpellier played great in their first Ligue 1 match, a 3-2 win against Estac Troyes. But on Saturday, the road team in this faces a monster soccer club.

In their last couple of matches, Paris Saint-Germain has shown why they’re not only the chalk to win Ligue 1 but why they’re also a favorite to take the Champions League.

On July 31, PSG blasted Nantes 6-1 at the French Trophee des Champions. Paris followed up the victory with a stunning 5-0 beat down of Clermont Foot on August 6. PSG covers.

Soccer Pick: Paris Saint-Germain -2.5

Olympique Lyon -124 vs FC Lorient +310

When: Sunday, August 14 at 5:00 am ET

Lyon has won 3-of-5, including their Matchday 1 game, beating AC Ajaccio 1-0. But although Lyon has a real chance of winning this match, the odds make them an underlay.

No way home team Lorient should offer +310. This happens on Lorient’s pitch and in their first French League match of the season, the home dog in this upset Stade Rennes 1-0. Backing Lorient makes sense.

Soccer Pick: FC Lorient

Strasbourg Alsace +232 vs OGC Nice +127

When: Sunday, August 14 at 9:05 am ET

Nice heads into this after a nice 1-1 draw versus Toulouse. In the previous match, the home favorite in this beat Torino 1-0 in a club friendly.

No doubt, Nice should be the chalk. But the odds difference is too much. Strasbourg lost their last, a 1-2 game versus AS Monaco. Monaco, though, is a better team than Nice. Alsace can pull off the upset victory.

Soccer Pick: Strasbourg Alsace

Olympique Marseille -107 vs Stade Brest +280

When: Sunday, August 14 at 12:45 pm ET

In their first league match of the season, Marseille rolled to a 4-1 victory over Stade de Reims. The performance was much better than what Brest showed in their first Ligue 1 contest.

Lens beat Brest 3-2 on August 7. We shouldn’t expect the home dog to pick it up in Matchday 2. Marseille grabs the win.

Soccer Pick: Olympique Marseille

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