The weekend Ligue 1 schedule kicks off with a humdinger of a derby between Cote d'Azur rivals Monaco and Nice.

There is no love lost between the two clubs, who are both unbeaten and look full of goals.

Saturday's double-header comes from the north-west with another derby showdown, this time Nantes versus Lorient, before Lyon, managed by Italian World Cup winner Fabio Grosso for the first time, visit Brest.

Monaco v Nice information

• Where is Monaco v Nice? Stade Luis II, Monaco
• When is Monaco v Nice? 20:00, Friday 22nd September
• Where can I watch Monaco v Nice? bet365's European Soccer Live Streaming Highlights & TNT Sports 3
• What are the odds for Monaco v Nice? Monaco 21/20, Draw 11/4, Nice 23/10

Monaco v Nice preview

Passions will be running high on the Med as local rivals Monaco and Nice meet in the Derby de la Cote d'Azur.

Just 20 kilometres and no end of bitterness separates these clubs who are preparing to meet in the Stade Louis II with both in good form.

Only four clubs go into the sixth round of Ligue 1 action unbeaten and these are two of them. Monaco are top on 11 points and boast the most potent strike force in France. Nice are fourth on nine points and claim the joint-best defence in the land.

And while Francesco Farioli's visitors might not be top of the league they'll be feeling top of the world after last Friday's 3-2 win at Paris Saint-Germain, the ultimate test of how good a side you are.

Having come through that challenge, ageless Brazilian centre-back Dante and his fellow defenders know they will be tested once again by a Monaco team who have already banged in 15 goals, five more than any other side.

Takumi Minamino and Wissam Ben Yedder are off to fliers with three and four goals respectively and Folarin Balogun has had an impact since arriving from Arsenal.

At 8/13 over 2.5 goals the sense is the attackers on display will outgun the defenders. All five of Monaco's matches this season have produced three goals or more, though only one of Nice's has.

Brest v Lyon information

• Where is Brest v Lyon? Stade Francis-Le-Ble, Brest
• When is Brest v Lyon? 20:00, Saturday 23rd September
• Where can I watch Brest v Lyon? bet365's European Soccer Live Streaming Highlights & TNT Sports 4
• What are the odds for Brest v Lyon? Brest 8/5, Draw 5/2, Lyon 13/8

Brest v Lyon preview

It's second meets third from bottom at the Stade Francis-Le-Ble with Lyon making the long trip west in desperate need of something good to happen.

Italian World Cup winner Fabio Grosso takes charge of Lyon for the first time following Laurent Blanc's sacking, returning to a club he played for.

He also returns just a few months after guiding Frosinone to the Serie B leaving Les Gones' fans confident he can work some magic at their club.

Lyon have posted a pair of 0-0 draws with Nice and Le Havre alongside three defeats and are one of only two sides yet to have scored a first-half goal.

Lyon won 4-2 at Brest last season with Alexandre Lacazette scoring en route to 27 for the season. This season the ex-Arsenal man has only one to his name yet Lyon are among the top shot-takers in the division. If a few start going in they will be climbing the table soon enough.

Brest head into this round of matches in second place in the table with just the one loss at Marseille. They won 2-1 at Reims last weekend but the fact that they are 8/5 and Lyon 13/8, shows that there is a sense the league table has not quite taken shape yet.

Nantes vs Lorient information

• Where is Nantes vs Lorient? Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
• When is Nantes vs Lorient? 16:00, Saturday 23rd September
• Where can I watch Nantes vs Lorient? bet365's European Soccer Live Streaming Highlights
• What are the odds for Nantes vs Lorient? Nantes 11/8, Draw 12/5, Lorient 2/1

Nantes v Lorient preview

Lorient have not won at near-neighbours Nantes in a league game since 2007 but they should fancy their chances. 

The Bretons have survived a really tough opening set of fixtures despite plenty of injuries, with a 0-0 draw at Paris Saint-Germain (22 percent possession and not a single shot on target) and 2-2 draw with Monaco arguably the pick of their results.

They have also drawn with Nice and thrashed Lille 4-1, their only loss coming at Le Havre.

Nantes only narrowly avoided relegation last season and would have been fearing another tough campaign after losing their openers 2-1 at home to Toulouse and 2-0 at Lille.

But they have responded with gutsy draws against Monaco and Marseille when they weren't given much of a squeak in either and last week won 1-0 at Clermont.

Mostafa Mohamed, with four goals in five, is 9/2 to score first and the obvious threat for the Canaries and the Egyptian is even more important to the hosts after Ignatius Ganago picked up a serious injury last weekend.