Ligue 1 Round 19 Preview: Saint Etienne hosts PSG as Ligue 1 nears the halfway stage

In the final matchday before a three-week winter break, current leaders Montpellier travel to new-boys Evian as incumbent holders Lille host Nice in round 19

Dec 20, 2011 4:00:00 AM

By Mohammed Ali

More On :  AC Ajaccio, AJ Auxerre, AS Nancy-Lorraine, AS Saint-Etienne, Bordeaux, Dijon FCO, Evian Thonon Gaillard, FC Lorient, Lille , Marseille, Montpellier HSC, O. Lyon, OGC Nice, PSG, SM Caen, Sochaux, Stade Brestois 29, Stade Rennais FC, Toulouse FC, Valenciennes FC
Ligue 1 : Kamel Chafni (AJ Auxerre)
Panoramic


Ligue 1: Round 19 Preview


Tuesday DECEMBER 20
 KO Wednesday DECEMBER 21
 KO
Nancy - Olympique de Marseille
 15.00
 Auxerre - Dijon
 13.00


Evian - Montpellier
 13.00


Lille - Nice
 13.00
          
 
 Lorient - Caen
 13.00


Stade Rennes - Bordeaux
 13.00


Sochaux - Ajaccio
 13.00


Toulouse - Brest
 13.00
all times in ET   Valenciennes - Lyon

Saint Etienne - PSG

13.00

15.00

Nancy vs Olympique de Marseille

PROBABLE LINEUPS


Gregorini
Calve, Andre Luis, Sami, Loties, Lemaitre
Bakar, Diakhite, Sane, Karaboue
Niculae

Marseille
Mandanda
Azpilicueta, N'Koulou, Diawara, Traore
Amalfitano, Cheyrou, Lucho
Valbuena, Remy, A Ayew
TEAM NEWS
  • Nancy recorded a 2-1 win over Caen on Saturday.
  • ASNL is the league's lowest scoring side, having only netted 16 times.
  • Jean Fernandez's men have failed to win nine of their last ten home games against the 2010 champions.
  
  • Marseille needed two late goals to beat Lorient at home on matchday 18.
  • L'OM has won the last five games in this fixture.
  • Despite its recent run of good form, Didier Deschamps' men have failed to win nine out of their last eleven away games.

Auxerre vs Dijon

PROBABLE LINEUPS


Sorin
Dudka, Boly, Grichting, Hengbart
Ndinga, Oliech
Haddad, Traore, Sahar
Jemaa

  
Dijon FCO
Reynet
Bamba, Zarour, Meite, Souprayen
Marcq, Sangare, Altama, Corgnet, Bautheac
Thil
TEAM NEWS
  • Auxerre went down 1-0 to Brest on matchday 18.
  • Like Dijon, Auxerre has only kept one clean sheet in Burgundy all season.
  • Auxerre will be without Kamel Chafni who was sent off against Brest, after accusing an assistant referee of racism.

  
  • Dijon was defeated 2-1 by Saint Etienne on Saturday.
  • Patrice Carteron's men have only kept one clean sheet on the road this season.     
  • Dijon has conceded the most goals on the road this season.
  
Evian
 vs Montpellier

PROBABLE LINEUPS
Evian Thonon Gaillard
Laquait
Djedje, Cambon, Angoula, Mensah
Leroy, Barbosa, Poulsen, Wass
Khelifa, Sagbo
  

Montpellier HSC
Jourden
Bedimo, Hilton, Yanga-Mbiwa, Bocaly
Saihi, Estrada
Belhanda, Utaka, Dernis
Giroud
TEAM NEWS
  • Evian was beaten 2-1 by Lyon at the Stade Gerland on Saturday.
  • Bernard Casoni's men have won their last three at home.
  • Yannick Sagbo has four goals in the last four home appearances.
  • Montpellier was held to a 1-1 draw against ten-man Toulouse on matchday 18.
  • Rene Girard's men have conceded in all but one of their last 13 away games.
  • La Paillade, who are still top, have failed to win their last two.

Lille vs Nice

PROBABLE LINEUPS

 Lille
Landreau
Debuchy, Chedjou, Basa, Beria
Balmont, Mavuba, Pedretti
Cole, Sow, Hazard


OGC Nice
Ospina
Clerc, Pecjinovic, Civelli, Coulibaly
Hellebuyck, Diakhite, Djadje, Abriel
Mouloungoui, Mounier
TEAM NEWS
  • Lille held PSG to a 0-0 draw in a drab game in the capital on Sunday.
  • Les Dogues are unbeaten in 16 league games, a club record.
  • Rudi Garcia's men are also unbeaten in eight against Nice.

  
  • Nice secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Valenciennes at the weekend.
  • Les Aiglons have only picked up one point on their travels this season.
  • Rene Marsiglia's side have drawn their last four games in the north 1-1.

Lorient vs Caen

PROBABLE LINEUPS

FC Lorient
Lecomte
Autret, Baca, Manga, Mareque
Jouffre, Coutadeur, Mvuemba, Monnet-Paquet
Sunu, Campbell


  

Thebaux
Vandam, Sorbon, Herteaux, Raineau
Hamouma, Seube, Proment, Bulot
Niang
Frau
TEAM NEWS
  • Lorient was undone by 84th and 95th minute goals as they relinquished a lead to lose 2-1 at Marseille.
  • Les Merlus have lost their last three league games.
  • Christian Gourcuff's men only have one win in six against Caen.
  
  • Caen was beaten 2-1 by Nancy, continuing a run of five straight defeats.
  • Caen has never lost at Stade du Moustoir.
  • Franck Dumas' men have failed to keep a clean sheet away from home this season.

Stade Rennes
 vs Bordeaux

PROBABLE LINEUPS
  
Stade Rennais FC
Costil
Danze, Mandjeck, Mangane, Catherine
Doumbia, M'Vila
Kembo-Ekoko, Feret, Pitroipa
Montano
 
 
Carrasso
Chalme, Henrique, Ciani, Tremoulinas
Ben Khalfallah, Plasil, N'Guemo, Maurice-Belay
Gouffran, Modeste
TEAM NEWS
  • Rennes produced a poor performance as they lost 1-0 to Ajaccio on Sunday.
  • Les Rouge et Noir are still unbeaten at home this season.
  • This fixture finished 0-0 on both occasions last season.
  
  • Bordeaux claimed a 1-0 win over a disappointing Sochaux on Sunday.
  • Bordeaux has lost just one of their last six trips to Stade de Route de la Lorient.
  • Les Girondins have failed to win 12 of their last 14 games on the road.

 

Sochaux vs Ajaccio

PROBABLE LINEUPS
FC Sochaux
Richert
Corchia, Carlao, Peybernes, Sauget
Anin,
Boudebouz, Martin, Mikari
Butin, Maiga

  
AC Ajaccio
Ochoa
Lippini, Medjani, Poulard, Mendy
Mostafa, Pierazzi
Cavalli, Tiberi, Kinkela
Ilan
TEAM NEWS
  • Sochaux's chronic poor performances continued as it was beaten 1-0 by Bordeaux on Sunday.
  • Les Lionceaux have won their last seven games against Ajaccio.
  • Mecha Bazdarevic's men have lost their last two consecutive home games, the first time that's happened for two seasons.
  
  • Bottom-placed Ajaccio claimed a shock 1-0 victory over Rennes on Sunday.
  • There have been only two draws in this fixture, in the past 20 encounters.
  • Despite the shock victory on matchday 18, Ajaccio remains bottom.

 

 

Toulouse
 vs Brest

PROBABLE LINEUPS
Toulouse FC
Ahamada
Ninkov, Congre, Abdennour, M'Bengue
Capoue
Machado, Didot, Sissoko, Braaten
Bulut
  


Elana
 Coulibaly, Zebina, Gentiletti , Lorenzi
Grougi, Ewolo, Licka, Poyet
Roux, Baset
TEAM NEWS
  • Ten-man Toulouse salvaged a 1-1 draw against Montpellier on Saturday.
  • Le Tefece have tasted defeat in just one of their previous 12 home games at Stadium Municipal.
  • Alain Casanova's side are unbeaten in the Pink City against Brest.
  
  • Brest secured a 1-0 victory against an out-of-sorts Auxerre on Saturday.
  • Brest has only won once in their last eighteen against Le Tefece.
  • The club has also just won once in its previous 22 encounters away from home.

Valenciennes vs Lyon

PROBABLE LINEUPS

 

Penneteau
Mater, Isimat-Mirin, Gil, Bong
Saez, Gomis
Ducourtioux, Kadir, Danic
Aboubakar

  
 

Lloris  
Reveilliere, Kone, Cris, Cissokho
Briand, Gonalons, Kallstrom, Lacazette
Lisandro Lopez, Gomis
TEAM NEWS
  • Valenciennes lost 2-0 away to Nice on Saturday evening.
  • Daniel Sanchez's side are unbeaten in 18 out of their last 19 home fixtures.
  • VAFC has scored six goals in its last three home fixtures against OL.

 

  
  • Lyon narrowly edged out Evian 2-1 on Saturday at Stade Gerland.
  • Les Gones are winless in their previous three trips to Valenciennes.
  • Remi Garde's men have won their last five games straight.

Saint Etienne
 vs PSG

PROBABLE LINEUPS

 AS Saint-Etienne
  Ruffier 
Ebondo, Paulao, Mignot, Ghoulam
Lemoine, Clement
Aubemayang, Nicolita, Sako
Sinama-Pongolle


  
 

Sirigu
Ceara, Sakho, Bisevac, Jallet
Bodmer, Sissoko
Menez, Pastore, Nene
Gameiro
TEAM NEWS
  • Saint Etienne comfortably saw off the challenge of Dijon, winning 2-1 on Saturday.
  • Les Verts are top of the form table, picking up the most points in the last five matchdays. (13 out of a possible 15)
  • Christophe Galtier's men have scored in each of their last 15 home fixtures.

 

  
  • PSG failed to move back to the top of the table as it was held 0-0 by Lille on Sunday.
  • Les Parisiens head into this match without a win in nine of its last 10 trips to Stade Geoffrey Guichard.
  • However, PSG are unbeaten in five against les Verts.


Ligue 1: Round 18 Preview

Table/Fixtures


Saturday DECEMBER 17 KO Sunday DECEMBER 18
 KO
Brest - Auxerre 19.00
 Ajaccio - Stade Rennes 17.00
Caen - Nancy
 19.00 Bordeaux - Sochaux
 17.00
Dijon - Saint Etienne 19.00 PSG - Lille
 21.00
     Marseille - Lorient      
 19.00


Montpellier - Toulouse 19.00

Nice - Valenciennes 19.00

Lyon - Evian 21.00

all times in CET  

 

Brest  vs Auxerre

PROBABLE LINE-UPS


Elana
 Coulibaly, Zebina, Gentiletti , Lorenzi
Grougi, Ewolo, Licka, Poyet
Roux, Baset


Sorin
Dudka, Boly, Grichting, Hengbart
Ndinga, Oliech
Chafni, Traore, Sahar
Jemaa
TEAM NEWS
  • Brest secured a 1-1 draw against Rennes on matchday 17.
  • Alex Dupont's men are winless in their last three.
  • The hosts are 16th, two ahead of the relegation zone.
  
  • Auxerre beat Nice 2-1 last weekend, with Denis Oliech in inspired form.
  • Laurent Fournier's men have not won away since the last day of last season.
  • Saturday's visitors sit 13th in the table, three points ahead of the relegation zone.

Caen vs Nancy

PROBABLE LINE-UPS


Thebaux
Vandam, Sorbon, Herteaux, Raineau
Hamouma, Seube, Proment, Bulot
Nangis
Frau
  


Gregorini
Calve, Andre Luis, Loties, Lemaitre
Bakar, Diakhite, Sane, Karaboue
  M'Bile, 
Niculae
TEAM NEWS
  • Caen lost 2-0 to Saint Etienne last weekend, with Livio Nabab sent off.
  • Les Malherbes are winless in their last five.
  • Franck Dumas' men lie in 12th place on 19 points.

  
  • Nancy needed a late equaliser to draw 2-2 with Ajaccio on matchday 17.
  • ASNL have only won one away game this season, beating PSG.      
  • Jean Fernandez's side sit in 18th, two points adrift of safety.
  
Dijon
 vs Saint Etienne

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Dijon FCO
Reynet
Bamba, Zarour, Paulle, Souprayen
Marcq, Sangare, Altama, Corgnet, Bautheac
Jovial
  

AS Saint-Etienne
Ruffier 
Ebondo, Paulao, Mignot, Ghoulam
Lemoine, Clement
Aubemayang, Nicolita, Sako
Sinama-Pongolle
TEAM NEWS
  • Dijon were defeated 2-0 at champions Lille last Sunday.
  • Patrice Carteron's men lie 15th, with 18 points scored.
  • Of their five league wins this term, three have been at the Gaston Gerard.
  
  • Saint Etienne calmly defeated Caen 2-0 at home on matchday 17.
  • Les Verts have won four of their last five, and are unbeaten in that time.
  • Christophe Galtier's men are on the rise in Ligue 1, positioned seventh.

Olympique de Marseille vs Lorient

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

 Marseille
Mandanda
Azpilicueta, N'Koulou, Diawara, Traore
Amalfitano, Cheyrou, Lucho
Valbuena, Remy, A Ayew


FC Lorient
Lecomte
Kone, Baca, Manga, Mareque
Jouffre, Coutadeur, Mvuemba, Monnet-Paquet
Sunu, Campbell
TEAM NEWS
  • Marseille played out a stale 0-0 draw against Bordeaux last weekend.
  • L'OM are unbeaten in four league games and have only lost twice at Stade Velodrome all year.
  • Didier Deschamps' men remain a full 11 points behind leaders Montpellier. 

  
  • Lorient were undone by Alexandre Lacazette's winner last time out, losing 1-0 to Lyon. 
  • Les Merlus have only won once away this season, to PSG on opening day.
  • Christian Gourcuff's men sit a place below OM in the table in 9th.

Montpellier vs Toulouse

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Montpellier HSC
Jourden
Bedimo, Hilton, Yanga-Mbiwa, Bocaly
Saihi, Marveaux
Belhanda, Utaka, Dernis
Giroud

  
Toulouse FC
Ahamada
Ninkov, Congre, Abdennour, M'Bengue
Capoue
Machado, Didot, Sissoko, Tabanou
Bulut
TEAM NEWS
  • Montpellier suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Valenciennes last weekend.
  • Rene Girard's men have won and kept a clean sheet in each of their last three home encounters.
  • La Paillade sit top of Ligue 1, but have allowed PSG to join them on goal difference.
  
  • Toulouse needed a late Umut Bulut winner to down Evian 2-1 on matchday 17.
  • Le Tefece have not won any of their last five away games.
  • Alain Casanova's men are ranked 6th in Ligue 1.

Nice vs Valenciennes

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
  
OGC Nice
Ospina
Clerc, Pecjinovic, Civelli, Coulibaly
Hellebuyck, Diakhite, Djadje, Abriel
Pentecote
Mounier

  

Penneteau
Mater, Isimat-Mirin, Gil, Bong
Saez, Gomis
Ducourtioux, Kadir, Danic
Aboubakar
TEAM NEWS
  • Nice lost 2-1 to Auxerre last weekend.
  • Les Aiglons sit 19th in the table, a win would see them leapfrog their visitors.
  • Rene Marsiglia's men have picked up their three wins at home this season.
  
  • Valenciennes claimed a shock 1-0 win over Montpellier on matchday 17.
  • Daniel Sanchez's men have failed to win 31 out of their last 33 away games.
  • VAFC sit two points above the relegation zone in 17th.

 

Olympique Lyonnais vs Evian

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Lloris  
Reveilliere, Kone, Cris, Cissokho
Briand, Gonalons, Kallstrom, Lacazette
Lisandro Lopez, Gomis
 
Evian Thonon Gaillard
Laquait
Djedje, Cambon, Angoula, Ehret
Leroy, Barbosa, Poulsen, Wass
Khelifa, Sagbo
TEAM NEWS
  • Lyon narrowly beat Lorient 1-0 last weekend.
  • Les Gones have won all but one home game this season.
  • Remi Garde's men lie fourth, four points behind leaders Montpellier.
  
  • Evian were beaten 2-1 by Toulouse last weekend.
  • Bernard Casoni's men are winless on their travels this season.
  • Sunday's visitors sit 11th in the table, with 19 points accumulated this season.

 

 

Ajaccio
 vs Stade Rennes

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