Nice and Nantes are, with Montpellier, the teams that have shown the best dynamics in the league in recent weeks.

The Niçois remain on a large success in Brest (3-0) where they could count on their scorers Dolberg, Delort and Gouiri as well as on an intractable Benitez in the cages.

Before this victory, acquired moreover in numerical inferiority, the Aiglons had beaten two contenders for European places, Rennes and Lens.

At the beginning of December, Christophe Galtier's men had also hooked Paris SG at the Parc des Princes (0-0).

Distanced by 11 points from the Parisian leader, Nice is aiming for direct qualification in the Champions League this season with Marseille, currently 3rd with the same number of points, but one game less.

The people of Nice will have to be wary of the people of Nantes who have just had three successes, then a draw against Monaco on Sunday (0-0).

The Franco-Congolese midfielder from Nantes, Samuel Moutoussamy (d), in the fight with his Monegasque counterpart Aurélien Tchouaméni, during the 20th day of Ligue 1, January 9, 2022 at the Stade de La Beaujoire LOIC VENANCE AFP / Archives

Four draws, only one victory: the record of PSG for a month and a half is quite far from that of the Canaries and the Aiglons.

The Brazilian defender of Paris Saint-Germain, Marquinhos, in the fight with his compatriot, the midfielder of Lyon, Lucas Paqueta, during the 20th day of Ligue 1, on January 9, 2022 at the Groupama Stadium in Décines-Charpieu Jeff PACHOUD AFP/Archives

Like many L1 clubs, PSG has certainly accumulated cases of Covid-19 since the holidays, starting with Lionel Messi, forfeited in the draw snatched from Lyon (1-1) on Sunday and who declared Thursday on his account Instagram that he needed "longer than expected" to recover from the illness.

The Parisian club even had to postpone its winter internship scheduled for January 16 to 19 in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, "in view of the health situation in France".

Mauricio Pochettino's team welcomes Brest (13th) on Saturday evening while, at the end of the afternoon, the red lantern Saint-Etienne receives Lens.

Faced with heroic Lensois (6th) in the Coupe de France against Lille (2-2, 4-3 pens) and winners of Rennes (1-0), Pascal Dupraz and his players will have a lot to do to achieve vital success.

Sunday will begin with a Rennes-Bordeaux with a heavy atmosphere: the Bretons, although 4th, remain on three losses in a row in L1 and an elimination in the Coupe de France, while the Bordelais are 17th and have just put away their captain Laurent Koscielny, as well as two other players.

Very fit, Montpellier (5th) travels to Strasbourg (8th) on Sunday, which has just won the derby in Metz (2-0) and has won three of its last five matches.

Hooked by Nantes (0-0) for the debut of its new coach Philippe Clément, Monaco (7th) will be looking for success when they receive promoted Clermont (15th) on Sunday.

Stuck in the middle of the table (11th) and weighed down by four consecutive draws, Lyon will also seek to win at the poorly ranked Troyes.

In closing, Marseille will receive Lille (10th) eager to erase their misstep in the Coupe de France against Lens.

The reigning French champions did not play in the league last weekend, their match against Lorient having been postponed to Wednesday January 19 due to Covid cases on the Breton side.

Program of the 21st day of Ligue 1:

Friday

(21h00) Nice – Nantes

On Saturday

(5:00 p.m.) Saint-Etienne - Lens

(21h00) Paris SG – Brest

Sunday

(1:00 p.m.) Rennes - Bordeaux

(3:00 p.m.) Lorient - Angers

Monaco-Clermont

Reims - Metz

Strasbourg - Montpellier

(5:05 p.m.) Troyes - Lyon

(8:45 p.m.) Marseilles - Lille

© 2022 AFP