Last Updated on September 15, 2022 10:31 am by Erwin Noguera
After a week full of matches that caused surprises in the UEFA Champions League, one of the most popular leagues in the world in recent seasons, Ligue One, returns to action with the eighth matchday of the 2022-23 season.
As expected, PSG starts this eighth matchday leading the standings, but, equal on 19 points with Marseille, who have also made a strong start to the season. They are followed by Lens with 17 points and Lorient with 16 points.
Then we have Lyon, who after a very good start to the season have dropped their performance in recent weeks and come into this match with a streak of 2 defeats in a row. Monaco is trying to recover and with two consecutive victories, it has climbed to seventh place.
At the bottom of the standings, we have no changes, as Racing, Stade Brest, Angers, and Ajaccio continue their terrible start to the season showing a very low level of play and, if they don’t change that now that the season is still starting, they could remain in the ditch for the whole season.
It is worth noting that the French teams that are playing in the Champions League, PSG and Marseille had their respective matches on the second day of the group stage, where PSG got a win, while Marseille couldn’t at home and lost the 3 points.
Here is a preview of the best matches we can enjoy on this eighth matchday of Ligue 1.
Ligue 1 Matchday 8 – Preview – Auxerre vs. Lorient – Info
When: Friday, September 16 at 03:00 pm ET
Moneyline odds: Auxerre +149 / Lorient +149 (Source: MyBookie.ag)
Draw Offs: +165
Where Can I Watch? beIN SPORTS / Fanatiz / Star + / DAZN
This Ligue 1 matchday 8 starts with the most even match that we can enjoy this weekend between Auxerre and Lorient, which will be tomorrow Friday, September 16, 2022, at the Stade de l’Abbé-Deschamps, home of Auxerre at 03:00 pm ET.
After having an excellent start to the season where they managed to take 7 points in their first 4 games, Auxerre has had many problems in their last few games played against the big teams of French soccer, Lyon, Marseille, and Rennes.
Auxerre comes into this match during a terrible run of 3 consecutive defeats, in which they have only managed to score 1 goal while conceding 9. The last defeat was the most worrying about them, as they were crushed by Rennes with a terrible score of 0-5.
Similarly, Auxerre is not one of the teams that could be judged, as they managed to be promoted to the first division of French soccer after the playoffs of the previous season.
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On the other hand, they face a team that is having a dream season, Lorient, who come into this matchday in fourth place in the standings, thanks to an excellent record of 5 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss.
Lorient has been on the verge of relegation back to the second division in the last two seasons, finishing in 16th place. But this season they have started with a completely different face, to the point that they are fighting for the top of the standings.
Lorient comes into this match after 3 wins in a row, the last one against Nantes, with a score of 3-2.
This will be a very complicated match for both teams, even though they arrive in completely different situations. That is why our selection is a 1-1 draw in the final score.
Auxerre vs. Lorient Betting Pick: Draw
Ligue 1 Matchday 8 – Preview – Marseille vs. Rennes – Info
When: Sunday, September 18 at 09:00 am ET
Moneyline odds: Marseille -105 / Rennes +204 (Source: MyBookie.ag)
Draw Offs: +184
Where Can I Watch? beIN SPORTS / Fanatiz / Star + / DAZN.
Two top teams in Ligue 1 will meet this weekend when Marseille hosts Rennes at the Stade Velodrome on Sunday, September 18 at 09:00 am ET for matchday 8 of the 2022-23 Ligue 1 season.
Olympique Marseille comes into this match after a painful defeat at home against Eintracht Frankfurt on the second matchday of the UEFA Champions League group stage, dropping to last place in Group D.
Marseille will, therefore, try to turn the page quickly in the local tournament, which is a different story for them, as they are level on 19 points at the top of the standings with the powerful PSG.
Similarly, Marseille’s last game in Ligue 1 was a very good win over Lille, with a 2-1 score, thanks to goals from Alexis Sanchez and Samuel Gigot.
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On the other hand, we have one of the most popular and historic teams in French soccer, Rennes, who come to this match with the firm conviction of repeating the most recent result against Marseille, last season, when they achieved a very good 2-0 victory with goals from Benjamin Bourigeaud and Lovro Majer.
Mind you, it is worth noting that Rennes has not been able to get a win at the Stade Velodrome since the 2017-18 season.
Rennes come into this match on the back of an excellent win against Auxerre, with a crushing 5-0 scoreline.
For this match, our pick is a 1-0 Olympique Marseille victory.
Marseille vs. Rennes Betting Pick: Marseille
Ligue 1 Matchday 8 – Preview – Nantes vs. Lens – Info
When: Sunday, September 18 at 11:05 am ET
Moneyline odds: Nantes +180 / Lens +111 (Source: MyBookie.ag)
Draw Offs: +176
Where Can I Watch? beIN SPORTS / Fanatiz / Star + / DAZN
Another of the very close matches that we will have in this round 8 of Ligue 1, Nantes vs. Lens, which will be this Sunday, September 18 at 11:05 am ET, at the Stade de la Beaujoire – Louis Fonteneau, home of Nantes.
In this match we have two opposite sides of a coin, Nantes is immersed in a bad moment trying to get the formula that will lead them on the road to victory, while Lens playing at a high level remains undefeated in 7 rounds, with 5 wins and 2 draws.
Nantes has not had the expected start of the season, as they have lost points against teams that were not in anyone’s plans this season.
But we should also note that they have had to face teams that have started the season at full speed, PSG, Marseille, and Lorient, hence these results that we see that they have obtained.
Nantes is located in 15th place in the standings, with only 6 points out of a possible 21, only 1 point above the relegation zone, something very worrying for a team that is regularly a good competitor in Ligue 1.
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On the other hand, we have Lens, a team that is playing at an incredible level and that, along with the leaders of the tournament, remains undefeated in these first 7 matchdays played. Thanks to this, they are in third place in the table with 17 points, only 2 points behind first place.
Lens has to their credit 3 spectacular victories against dangerous teams in the league, 4-1 against Monaco, 2-1 against Rennes, and 5-2 against Lorient. This shows that Lens wants to be one of the two teams that will play in the next UEFA Champions League.
Lens comes into this match after beating Troyes with a score of 1-0.
Despite the parity that exists in the history between these two teams and the fact that it will be played at the home of Nantes, we believe that Lens will continue to show very good soccer and will win with a score of 1-0.
Nantes vs. Lens Betting Pick: Lens
Ligue 1 Matchday 8 – Preview – Lyon vs. PSG – Info
When: Sunday, September 18 at 02:45 pm ET
Moneyline odds: Lyon +285 / PSG -181 (Source: MyBookie.ag)
Draw Offs: +265
Where Can I Watch? beIN SPORTS / Fanatiz / Star + / DAZN
The match that closes this eighth round of Ligue 1 will be nothing less than the French Derby between Lyon and PSG, which will be played this Sunday, September 18 at PARC OL, home of Lyon at 02:45 pm ET.
This is the most important match to be played in Ligue 1 and, as such, all eyes will be on the development of this great derby.
Lyon comes into this match in the worst possible moment, football-wise, as they are coming off two consecutive away defeats, where they lost to Lorient (1-3) and Monaco (1-2). Getting back to winning ways against PSG is not an easy task, but it would be ideal for them to do so and thus regain the confidence to fight for the top of the table.
It is worth noting that Lyon has been able to score goals in every game they have played this season, but, the only one in which they have not conceded was their 5-0 win over Angers.
When they play at home, Lyon plays with extra confidence and, they have won the last 4 games played.
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On the other hand, we have one of the most dangerous and powerful teams in the world, PSG, who come into this match with the confidence of being the tournament leaders, as well as having won their last UEFA Champions League group stage match against Maccabi Haifa, with a score of 1-3.
We must highlight that PSG has its top stars, Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé in their best moment and, that is why their level of play is sky-high.
For this match, our winner’s chip is for PSG and we predict a final score of 3-1.
Lyon vs. PSG Betting Pick: PSG
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