Lorient vs. Montpellier (Thursday, 4.00pm)
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With a European place, next season still within its grasp Lorient resume their Ligue 1 campaign by welcoming Montpellier HSC to Stade du Moutsoir on Thursday.
The French club based in Brittany are off to its best-ever start domestically, sitting fifth in the table on 28 points, 14 more than their opponents this week, who are winless in league play since September.
We say: Lorient 1-0 Montpellier HSC
Despite their recent form against Lorient, Montpellier have hardly been convincing this season, and Les Merlus will face a side who have been shaky along the backline throughout most of the domestic campaign.
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Reims vs. Rennes (Thursday, 6.00pm)
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Currently unbeaten in nearly four months of competitive fixtures, Rennes will resume their Ligue 1 campaign with an opportunity to close the gap between themselves and second-place Lens as they travel to Stade Auguste-Delaune on Thursday to battle Reims.
Coming into this encounter, Reims have put together a nice run of results domestically, unbeaten in seven consecutive league fixtures, while Les Rennais have not lost away from home since falling 2-1 versus Lens in late August.
We say: Reims 1-2 Rennes
Reims have beaten Rennes more than any other side in Ligue 1 this century, but on this occasion, we are leaning towards the visitors, who are in fantastic form and among the deepest and most dynamic teams when it comes to scoring in the French top flight.
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Nice vs. Lens (Thursday, 8.00pm)
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As Ligue 1 resumes after the World Cup break, second-placed Lens look to continue a superb streak of results when they visit Nice on Thursday.
While the visitors won five straight games to close out the season's first phase above all but Paris Saint-Germain in the standings, their southern hosts have flattered to deceive so far this term.
We say: Nice 1-1 Lens
While Lens are strong defensively, hosts Nice have been short of their best on home soil this season, so a low-scoring stalemate could be on the cards. In what could be an intense encounter on the French Riviera, both sides will aim to pick up where they left off, and a point apiece would not represent a bad result for either.
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Marseille vs. Toulouse (Thursday, 8.00pm)
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Aiming to pick up where they left off in Ligue 1, fourth-placed Marseille tackle mid-table Toulouse at Stade Velodrome on Thursday.
Just before the World Cup break, OM posted successive wins over Lyon and Monaco; meanwhile, their visitors finished the season's first phase with three straight defeats.
We say: Marseille 2-0 Toulouse
Though Marseille have won only one of their last four Ligue 1 home games, they have been presented with a favourable fixture to kick off their post-Christmas campaign and can take maximum points on Thursday. A lack of goals has seen Toulouse toil on the road, and they have already lost to several other top-flight heavyweights this term.
