Super Sunday Football Acca

First up, I’m backing Lille, who finished second last year, to beat Nantes at home in their Ligue 1 opener. Though they’ve lost Nicolas Pepe, I still expect Les Dogues being too strong for Sunday’s opponents.

Their home form last season read W13, D4, L2 – a run which included a 2-1 victory over Nantes.

The visitors finished 12th last year, but with new manager Christian Gourcuff appointed only very recently, I can’t see Nantes being super-competitive this early in the season, particularly against such a good Lille outfit.

Arsenal have had a stunner of a transfer window—most eye-catchingly signing the aforementioned Pepe—and though Newcastle will also be content with their summer business, they’re going to lose to the Gunners on Sunday.

Steve Bruce has a lot to prove at St. James’ Park, and considering the Magpies’ shocking start at home last season, where they lost their opening five, it’s looking like a big ask to get anything against an Arsenal side who will be bursting with confidence and optimism.

The Gunners have a fantastic record against Newcastle—winning 12 of their last 13 matches against them—and I see this weekend being no different.

In the big one this weekend, I have both teams scoring in Manchester United v Chelsea.

It’s hard to know what to expect from Chelsea with Frank Lampard at the helm, but I wouldn’t hold out for immediate coherence – up top or at the back.

There will be a youthful (and inexperienced) edge to Chelsea this season, but they’ll have a real go at a Manchester United side who I expect to be far from convincing this season.

Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka will be immediately introduced to United’s shambolic defence, but it’ll take more than a few weeks to significantly improve from last season, and despite Eden Hazard’s departure, there are still goals in this Chelsea side.

Both teams have scored in the last three meetings between these two sides, and it’s hard to see either remaining defensively solid for the whole 90.

Forget their end-of-season slump last year, PSG will mean business come Sunday.

Thomas Tuchel’s men won their first 15 home matches last season – nine of which by three goals or more. Therefore, I’m backing a PSG -2 victory at home against Nimes.

Nimes fell 3-0 in this fixture last year, and despite a creditable 9th place finish last season, the hosts will be keen to make a big statement in their opener, so things may get messy for Les Crocodiles.

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