It’s slim pickings for Dermot in Ligue 1 this week but the treble is still a healthy 7/1
Clermont host Nice to start game week ten which ends with Choc des Olympiques when Lyon visit Marseille. In between, league leaders Monaco have a tough assignment at Lille whilst title favourites PSG have a tricky tie at 5th-placed Brest. It’s a tough week to find some angles in Ligue 1 as a lot of the remaining games feature closely matched sides.
Lens Vs Nantes
Sat 28th Oct 20:00
Lens still haven’t found a rhythm this season after struggling to replace Seko Fofana and Lois Openda. Chance creation hasn’t been an issue but scoring has been. Eyle Wahi is starting to settle in and gives the attack a bit more dynamism than the opening weeks. Only 5 sides have conceded more than Franck Haise’s side though.
Nantes have been a revelation over the past 7 games weeks. Draws with Marseille and Monaco was followed by a run of 4 wins in 5 games (the only defeat coming at Rennes). The last time Nantes failed to score in a Ligue 1 fixture was way back on the 20th of August. 5/6 on both teams to score is well priced here as the likelihood is closer to 4/9.
Both Teams to Score @ 5/6
Rennes Vs Strasbourg
Sun 29th Oct 16:05
Draws have been a thorn in Rennes side all season but Bruno Genesio’s team are another Ligue 1 side with a lack of cutting edge in front of goal at key times. Lorient didn’t have a shot on goal in the first 45 minutes last week. This was Rennes undoing as Les Merlus scored with their first shot on target in injury time before the break to give them the lead and the win (their opening goal was an own goal). The two big positives this week are home advantage and what will likely be Martin Terrier’s first Ligue 1 start since January. Kalimuendo is one of the better backups in the league but needs at least five chances to score one.
Strasbourg have lost the last 3 and have only managed to score once on the road so far this season. Patrick Vieira gave a lot of the right soundbites to begin an interview last week but it ended with the usual clichés from a man worried about his job. And so he should be, €56m is way above the average spend for a Ligue 1 side, let alone a transfer window. He still isn’t sure of what his best side is and they lack a proven goalscorer. The fact this game is 19/20 for a Rennes win is baffling but it’s a great price in my opinion.
Rennes to Win @ 19/20
Marseille Vs Lyon
Sun 29th Oct 20:00
Clermont got their first win of the season last week at the visitors in this game, Lyon. Fabio Grosso’s side are unbelievably winless in all competitions since last May. After 4 games there is already rumours and press articles about a potential replacement. If this game goes to form he could well only be in the Lyon hotseat for 5 games in total. I actually think if Grosso is given time he’ll turn OL around. He has taken a no-nonsense line with those not willing to put in the effort, the downfall of his 3 predecessors. His biggest issue with doing this is the current Lyon squad doesn’t have the depth or youth products waiting in the wings to pick up the slack.
Fellow Italian Gennaro Gattuso has made an excellent start in Marseille. The OM faithful appear to have taken to the all-action management style of the hot-headed former Milan head coach. A silly red card cost them at Nice last week but they had a fine 3-1 victory over AEK Athens in the Europa League on Thursday evening. His public praise of Amine Harit appears to have lit a fire under the inconsistent Frenchman who is fast becoming the attacking fulcrum of his side. Gattuso will want a big display from his side in the Choc des Olympiques (Derby/Clash of the Olympiques) to get the home fans even more on his side. Should the same Lyon turn up as last week the OM manager may well be pushing for them to run up a score.
Marseille to Win -1 @ 9/5
Smart Bets
Lens Vs Nantes – BTTS @ 5/6
Rennes to Win @ 19/20
Marseille to Win -1 @ 9/5
Above in a treble (best priced): over 7/1
Dermot publishes his Ligue 1 tips here every Thursday. Follow Dermot and TheACCAdemics to get all our weekly football betting tips first!
