Last round saw some changes in the Ligue 1 table, namely Lens, who've had an outstanding season so far, sliding into fourth, while Nice and Marseille move into second. PSG, meanwhile, still enjoy a very comfortable lead over the chasing pack as Les Parisiens seek to reclaim the Ligue 1 title after losing it to Lille last season.
Here's all you need to know ahead of matchday 13.
Ligue 1 standings heading into matchday 13
Ligue 1 games you won't want to miss on matchday 13
Lens vs Troyes: Lens have definitely been one of the surprise packages so far this season. Franck Haise's team finished in seventh last time around, but this term has seen them recently battling for a Champions League berth as they were in second spot for about a month, starting from September. But two losses in their last five games, the most recent a 2-1 reversal to Lyon, have seen them now slide back down into fourth, and it will be interesting to see how they recover when they kick off round 13 with a home clash against Troyes, who naturally will be really keen to get some points on the board as they're just barely out of the drop zone.
Bordeaux vs PSG: Now that they've finally ended their winless streak thanks to Briand's heroics in the second half, Vladimir Pektovic's squad will now face an even sterner test with PSG arriving on Saturday. It surely will be an uphill battle for the hosts, who have picked up just 12 points so far and sit in 16th spot, just three points away from the drop zone, while PSG continue to chug along with 31 points and a very comfortable eight point lead over the chasing pack.
However, Lionel Messi's legions of fans will have to wait a bit longer to see their favorite player in action - as the six-time Ballon d'Or winner is out again, this time with a knee injury. That means he'll have to wait to finally grab his first ever Ligue 1 goal. Bordeaux won't be able to breathe too easily, though, as Kylian Mbappe is back in action after recovering from an ear infection and will slot right back into the starting XI.
Marseille vs Metz: Currently in third spot, Marseille are just one point behind Nice and one ahead of Lens, making the race for second starting to get a lot more interesting. It's safe to say that Les Olympiens will want to make sure they continue to keep pace as they welcome a Metz side who are looking like early contenders for relegation, with just one win so far this season. Boosting Marseille's chances is the fact that Jorge Sampaoli's side presently have a very clean bill of health, with no injuries or suspensions heading into this weekend's contest.
Nice vs Montpellier: Les Aiglons continue to soar under Christophe Galtier's leadership, and one year after winning the Ligue 1 title with Lille, he'll certainly be hoping to do the same with his new club. Of course, there's a lot of ground to make up between themselves and PSG, but Nice could certainly do their part by ensuring they secure a win over Montpellier, who've endured a wobbly campaign thus far, with four wins, four draws, and four losses from their first 12 games.
Team news for matchday 13
Here's who's out or in doubt for matchday 13
*All info as of 4 November 2021
PSG: Lionel Messi (Knee Problems), Sergio Ramos (Calf Problems), Leandro Paredes (Thigh Problems), Marco Verratti (Hip Injury)
Lille: Sven Botman (Groin Injury)
Marseille: No recent injuries or suspensions
Lyon: Moussa Dembélé (Broken Leg), Jeff Reine-Adélaïde (Knee Injury), Lenny Pintor (Knee Injury)
Monaco: Cesc Fàbregas (Hamstring Injury), Jean Marcelin (Muscular Issue), Krépin Diatta (Ankle Injury)
