Ligue 1 predictions: Round 30: 18/04-20/04
Will Marseille get back to winning ways when they host struggling Montpellier this weekend? De Zerbi’s side has underperformed in recent weeks, losing four of their last five Ligue 1 matches, to say the least. They lost heavily 3-0 away to Monaco last time out, but a win over Montpellier will see them return to 2nd place, pending Monaco’s outcome.
PSG weren’t involved in league action last time, but this weekend, they will continue their hunt to finish the season unbeaten when they host Le Havre in Paris. Monaco will build on their recent form when they host Strasbourg, as Lyon take on Saint-Etienne away from home on Sunday, days after their Europa League game against Manchester United in England.
We analysed all nine Ligue 1 matches that will take place this week and came out with the best possible outcomes.
Ligue 1 gameweek 30 predictions: 18/04/2025 - 20/04/2025
Corner kicks to come in excess: Rennes vs Nantes
- Date: 18/04/2025
- Kick-off: 20:45 CET
- Both teams effortlessly win many corners when they cross paths, and we expect the same from the upcoming encounter.
Rennes and Nantes have shared the pitch on many Ligue 1 occasions over the years, and we found a consistent trend. Both teams usually win many corner kicks when they meet in this competition. Yes, Rennes won four of their last five league meetings with Nantes, but we also believe this game will be rich in corners because they averaged 10.6 corner kicks per game in their last five Ligue 1 meetings. We can either back the hosts to win the tie, thanks to their excellent record against Nantes, or back both teams to produce at least nine corners before the final whistle. We obviously will want to lean on the latter.
Rennes vs Nantes prediction: Total corner kicks – over 8.5
Le Havre to make many neat tackles: PSG vs Le Havre
- Date: 19/04/2025
- Kick-off: 17:00 CET
- Le Havre easily display their marking skills when they come up against PSG, and the return leg in Paris is a good chance for the visitors to advertise their defending prowess.
PSG and Le Havre met three times in Ligue 1 since their last encounter in 2009, thanks to the visitors' absence from top-flight football. However, Le Havre didn’t hold back in displaying their defensive qualities in the three league games they met with PSG, and we expect them to replicate the same energy against the Parisians, who are expected to be short in energy following their away game with Aston Villa in England in the Champions League this week. We took a look at their last three meetings; we found out that Le Havre averaged 21.3 tackles per game. We expect one or two tackles fewer in the return leg in Paris.
PSG vs Le Havre prediction: Away team total tackles – over 19.5
AS Monaco and Strasbourg will entertain fans with goals: AS Monaco vs Strasbourg
- Date: 19/04/2025
- Kick-off: 19:00 CET
- Goals are usually scored in matches involving both teams, and we expect the same from the upcoming game.
Monaco find it relatively easy to get the better of Strasbourg, having won their last five Ligue 1 meetings. Losing five matches in a spin is one thing, but losing that many to the same team is a different ball game. We expect the visitors to put up a worthy fight in Fontvieille and put a stop to their losing streak against Adi Hutter’s side. If this expectation becomes a reality, then there’s a decent chance the upcoming game will produce three or more goals, because we expect Monaco to fight back, as they are pushing for a place in the top three for Champions League football next term. If four of their last five meetings with Strasbourg ended with over 2.5 goals, then there’s a huge chance this clash will follow suit.
AS Monaco vs Strasbourg prediction: Total goals – over 2.5
Marseille and Montpellier will exchange goals: Marseille vs Montpellier
- Date: 19/04/2025
- Kick-off: 21:05 CET
- Marseille have struggled to keep clean sheets lately, and we don’t expect that to change this weekend.
Somehow Marseille have struggled to maintain consistency in Ligue 1, losing four of their last five matches. De Zerbi’s side failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last five league matches, and having scored and conceded against Montpellier in four of their previous five league encounters, we have every right to expect the same from the return leg this weekend.
Marseille vs Montpellier prediction: Both teams to score – yes
Lille and Auxerre to serve many corners: Lille vs Auxerre
- Date: 20/04/2025
- Kick-off: 15:00 CET
- Corners usually come in excess when both teams meet, and there’s a chance both clubs will try to create goalscoring chances from the flanks in the upcoming game.
Lille and Auxerre have met three times in Ligue 1 since they last met in 2012, and that’s due to Auxerre’s relegation to lower divisions. It is wise to overlook their meetings of the last decade, as many changes have been made at both clubs. We looked at their last three matches and found out that both teams regularly try to create chances from the flanks. No wonder they averaged 11 corners per game in their last three meetings. While we doubt the upcoming match will produce this many, expecting at least nine from the game shouldn’t be a stretch.
Lille vs Auxerre prediction: Total corners – over 8.5
Both teams will be cautioned by the referee many times: Brest vs Lens
- Date: 20/04/2025
- Kick-off: 17:15 CET
- The centre referee usually display his yellow card many times when he officiates matches involving both teams, and we cannot rule out the same from happening this weekend.
Brest and Lens have met several times in Ligue 1 recently, so we took the liberty to predict this game using their last five league meetings. Lens may have won four of these five encounters against Brest, but it is safe to claim that it would be risky to back the visitors to get the win, as they currently sit two points behind Brest in the Ligue 1 standings. However, we found something consistent in their last five meetings — the number of yellow cards was mind-blowing. Both teams received 26 yellow cards in their last five meetings, 5.2 yellow cards per game on average. This game will be intense, and a lot of late tackles are expected to be made by both teams. Expecting at least four yellow cards from this encounter shouldn’t raise any eyebrows.
Brest vs Lens prediction: Total yellow cards – over 3.5
OGC Nice will end their winless run of five matches: OGC Nice vs Angers
- Date: 20/04/2025
- Kick-off: 17:15 CET
- OGC Nice may have gone five matches without a win, but their home record against this opponent is a joy to look at.
Nice to welcome Angers this weekend without a win in their last five league matches, but their record against this opponent should give the home crowd enough confidence to anticipate a win. The hosts may have lost at home to Angers in 2022, but that was the only defeat they recorded in their last six league home matches against the Black and Whites, winning three and drawing two. We expect the hosts to continue their dominance over this side this weekend.
OGC Nice vs Angers prediction: Home team to win
Both teams to create chances from the flags: Reims vs Toulouse
- Date: 20/04/2025
- Kick-off: 17:15 CET
- Both teams are fond of creating goalscoring chances through corners, and it didn’t come as a shock when we found the number of corners both clubs took in their last five meetings.
Toulouse won three of their last five meetings with Reims, but this week’s encounter has a totally different meaning for both teams. Toulouse are clear of the relegation zone and are challenging for a spot to play in Europe next season. The game isn’t as important to them as to Reims, who are still fighting against relegation, so we cannot count on the visitors to win this encounter. We expect the hosts to push for a win and advance their chances of avoiding relegation this term, but we don’t expect the visitors not to throw punches back at them. Set pieces are sometimes crucial in games like this, and the fact they averaged 11.4 corners per game in their last five meetings suggests the upcoming game will have at least nine activities from the flags.
Reims vs Toulouse prediction: Total corners – over 8.5
Lyon to continue their fine form: Saint-Etienne vs Lyon
- Date: 20/04/2025
- Kick-off: 20:45 CET
- Lyon have dominated these meetings for years, and we expect the visitors to remain dominant this weekend.
Saint-Etienne won just once in their last 11 meetings with Lyon, so what are the chances they get a win over Cherki’s side this weekend? Lyon find themselves in 4th position after 29 matches, and because they are eager to return to the Champions League next season, winning this game should be their top priority. The visitors won five of their last six league meetings, so we don’t see why Lyon won’t make it three wins in a row against the Greens.
