After more Coupe de France Feminine action last week, the Division 1 Feminine returns this weekend and it returns with a bang.

With just eights games remaining in the season and nine points separating the top four - it's all to play for as we await the clinching of the title and of the two European places.

At the other end of the standings, things are getting tighter and tighter and no one will want to be going backwards in these crucial final weeks, with relegation threatening most of those outside the top four.

The big one

The big game of the weekend is obviously and undoubtedly Friday night's fixture, which sees the big two face off as Paris Saint-Germain host Olympique Lyonnais.

Lyon have completely dominated this fixture in recent years, as they have the division. They won the reverse 5-0 in September and did the double over them last season too. PSG did beat Lyon 1-0 in the Champions League last year in their incredible run to the final, but the last time they beat them in the league was in January 2014 - Laura Georges scoring the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory.

If they can stay defensively tight, PSG can get something from the game. Their last two wins over Lyon were both 1-0 victories, and the reigning D1 champions have already showed that they struggle against well organised teams this season by mustering up a goalless draw with Montpellier in December.

Neutrals will hope for the tight and well contested affair that is only produced when PSG are fully focused, but the chances that Lyon will run riot once again are more likely.

Saturday's relegation scraps

The clash of the current top two is followed by two completely contrasting fixtures on Saturday evening - Guingamp - Nîmes Metropole Gard and La Roche-sur-Yon - Soyaux.

The former sees the side bottom of the standings travel to face the side just inside the relegation places; third from bottom. Earlier in the season, one might have said that Guingamp would hands down clinch all four points - but Nîmes have showed signs of improvement recently.

A win on Saturday would actually be their fourth in a row, following two cup victories and their first league win of the season over VGA Saint-Maur two weeks ago. Into the last 16 of the Coupe de France Feminine, they are mentally in the best state they have been all season and need to capitalise on this. Guingamp, meanwhile, haven't won a league game since the first day of November, despite two cup wins since.

This will be a fixture that is played more in the mind than on the pitch. It's about who can psychologically overcome their opponent and grind out a win to keep their slim hopes of staying in the top flight alive.

Soyaux's visit of La Roche is a little different. These are the two sides just hovering about the bottom three right now - the former by a healthy five points, and the latter by the more concerning distinction of goal difference. The winner of the game will take a significant jump away from the drop, whereas the loser will be sucked right into the scrap at the worst possible time.

With everything at stake, it's sure to be a cagey game and one in which quality struggles to shine through. However, the moments in which it does could be decisive, with both teams boasting promising young attackers who can win games for them.

Quieter Sunday

The drama calms a little bit on Sunday. Juvisy and Montpellier are both in action against significantly lesser teams, with both expected to record victories.

The former will face second-bottom Saint-Maur, who are now level on points with bottom side Nîmes and five points from safety. Juvisy have only tasted defeat against teams in the top three this season and so one can expect them to continue their consistency against teams below them on Sunday.

Montpellier, meanwhile, are hosted by AS Saint-Étienne, who are comfortably above the drop zone in the standings, but not so much in terms of points. Despite being sixth in the table, just inside the top half, they are just eight points above the bottom three and could still be dragged into the relegation battle.

Can Saint-Étienne get a win against Montpellier? | Photo: Alex Ortéga
Can Saint-Étienne get a win against Montpellier? | Photo: Alex Ortéga

They will be keen to get something from this game then, looking back to their opening day draw with Juvisy for inspiration as they aim to get points off another top team.

Montpellier, on the other hand, have top two hopes on the agenda and can not afford to slip up if they want to leapfrog PSG - something they have a huge chance to do this week with the second-placed side facing leaders and champions Lyon. One would not expect them to make costly mistakes in dropping points at this stage either, such is the quality of their side.

The final game of the weekend is a mid-table clash that could prove important once again in the relegation battle. ASPTT Albi will host Rodez, with the former sat in seventh and the latter fifth.

Rodez are seemingly safe. They are 11 points above the drop and are looking for some good form to see the season out and ensure their place in the top flight next season. Albi, meanwhile, are eight points above the bottom three and have won only one of their last six games. Whether their shaky form can keep their heads above water for much longer is unclear. If a team in the drop zone picks up a string of good results, it could be at their expense.

These two produced a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture back in September, and it could be a similarly tight contest under the circumstances - with neither wanting to lose.

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About the author
Ameé Ruszkai
Head of the Sunderland, Swansea City and women football sections at VAVEL UK. Email: [email protected]