Before the Round – France Ligue 1 Round 35 (30/04-01/05/2022)

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Two points separate 17th-place Clermont and 18th-place Saint-Etienne in the race for Ligue 1 survival. Saint-Etienne occupy the relegation playoff position heading into matchday 35. If Les Verts slip up at Rennes, they could find themselves further adrift from safety.

There is a lot to play for on matchday 35 of the Ligue 1 season at the top and bottom of the table. Rennes are in a dogfight with Monaco and Nice for the final Champions League qualification place. Meanwhile, Nantes and Lens are fighting for a European qualification place.

RC Lens - FC Nantes

Lens are unbeaten in four straight Ligue 1 matches ahead of Nantes’ arrival this weekend. The Yellow and Red are five points off of third place. Nantes are nine points back of the top three with four games to play. However, three of their last four games ended without wins.

Nantes won the reverse fixture against Lens 3-2. The Canaries will hope for another big win over a direct top-three rival. Nantes took eight points from the last 18 points on offer. They conceded a hefty number of goals, however. Eleven goals were conceded and 12 scored in the last six games.

Lens picked up 13 points from the last 18 points on offer in the league. They scored a brilliant 11 goals and conceded a mere four times to their last six opponents.

• In their last 3 home Ligue 1 matches, RC Lens have won by 2 or more goals.
• FC Nantes have been winning at half time in their last 3 away matches in Ligue 1.
• RC Lens are unbeaten in 11 of their last 13 home matches in Ligue 1.
• In their last 7 away games in Ligue 1, FC Nantes have recorded only 1 win.
• Prediction: RC Lens @ 1.67

Stade Rennais - AS Saint-Étienne

Rennes are third in the Ligue 1 table going into matchday 35. They are level with fourth-place Monaco on 59 points. Rennes cannot afford to drop points to 18th-place Saint-Etienne. Saint-Etienne have lost four of their last six games against Rennes.

Les Verts are winless in back-to-back Ligue 1 games. They picked up just five points from the last 18 available in Ligue 1.

Rennes, on the other hand, took 10 points from the last 18 points available in Ligue 1. They scored a brilliant 18 goals across the last six games. Rennes defeated Saint-Etienne 5-0 earlier this season.

• In their last 7 home games in Ligue 1, Stade Rennais have been undefeated on 6 occasions.
• There have been over 2.5 goals in AS Saint-Étienne's last 5 Ligue 1 games.
• In their 14 most recent home Ligue 1 clashes, Stade Rennais have managed to score 1+ goals.
• AS Saint-Étienne have been conceding an average of 2.00 goals in their league matches.
• Prediction: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.62

Stade Brestois - Clermont Foot

Stade Brestois are unbeaten in six straight games in all competitions with Clermont. Four of those six games finished as draws, however. Earlier this season, the teams drew 1-1 at Clermont.

Stade Brestois go into matchday 35 in 11th place. They have solidified their Ligue 1 status with back-to-back wins. Brest took 10 points from their last 18 points on offer in the league.

Clermont picked up five points from the last 18 available. They are unbeaten in three straight Ligue 1 games. Two points separate Clermont from 18th-place Saint-Etienne. Clermont need to end a six-match winless streak against Stade Brestois to ensure they stay ahead of Les Verts.

• Stade Brestois have won 3 of their last 6 matches in Ligue 1.
• In their 9 most recent matches of Ligue 1, Clermont Foot have achieved just 1 win.
• Stade Brestois have scored at least one goal.
• Clermont Foot have scored an average of 0.94 goals in their away league games.
• Prediction: Stade Brestois @ 2.15

Montpellier HSC – FC Metz

Montpellier won just one of their last six games against Metz in all competitions. That victory came earlier this season as Montpellier defeated Metz 3-1 away.

Metz are at the bottom of the Ligue 1 table ahead of the weekend fixture with Montpellier. They are seven points off of the relegation playoff place with 12 points left to play for. Just one point was picked up by Metz in their last six games.

Montpellier are on a rotten run of form. They are winless in five straight games. Montpellier picked up a mere four points from the last 18 available.

• Montpellier HSC have won just 1 of their last 9 league games.
• The most recent games of FC Metz consist of 4 consecutive away defeats in Ligue 1.
• Montpellier HSC have defeated FC Metz in just 1 of their last 6 home meetings in Ligue 1.
• FC Metz have won only 4 of their last 37 Ligue 1 matches.
• Prediction: Montpellier HSC @ 1.73