Dermo is starting with a selection from the bottom of the table before working back up to the top in this 24/1 treble
After poor results for chasers Marseille and Lens, PSG look to have Ligue 1 wrapped up. Even though it’s early February, 8pts already seems an unassailable lead to overcome. That said, a few more league games with the lack of effort shown when chasing the game versus Marseille in midweek’s cup match could see the season turn sour at PSG. There is a good chance they line-up with none from Mbappé, Messi and Neymar at Monaco to try get them all fit for the visit of Bayern Munch in the Champions League in midweek.
Angers Vs Auxerre
Sun 12th 14:00 GMT
Manager Abdel Bouhazama has been rotating his attack the past few games with mixed results. Sometimes Adrien Hunou has played as a striker and at #10. Another player changing position quite a bit is the man we are interested in, Abdallah Sima. Brighton & Hove Albion scouts snapped him up after a season in the Czech Republic. The shrewdness of their scouting network it there for all to see with a net €82.1m profit from mostly bargain buys. Sima hasn’t done a whole lot in either 6 months at Stoke or a Angers but the signs are there that without Sofiane Boufal, he could be an unexpected ace for the beleaguered Loire side. Two goals in his past three games is enough of a nudge to back him here to score anytime, given opponents Auxerre a league high 27 goals in 11 away games this season.
Nantes Vs Lorient
Sun 5th 16:05 GMT
The two sides are separated by 11 points in the table but there is little to choose between each sides goal difference. Nantes are -3 overall with Lorient on -1. This game with be a light version of Derby de la Bretagne (usually between Lorient and Rennes) but this is still seen a must win game by the locals. Antoine Kombouare addressed his side’s lack of a goal threat in the January window securing the services of Andy Delort from Nice. The home side have the 4th fewest goals scored in Ligue 1 this season, but are the joint 8th best defence.
Lorient has possibly gone the other way regarding their attack. Dango Ouattara was sold to Bournemouth and surprisingly, star striker Terem Moffi to Nice. Bamba Dieng has been brought in to replace the former but the Senegalese’s fitness has to be a worry having failed 4 medical’s at different clubs in the past 6 months. Romain Faivre has also been added but he is another who has more questions than answers. In Enzo Le Fee, Les Merius have possibly the best young talent in Ligue 1 outside of the top 6 teams. If the home side take the lead, the attacking midfielder has enough creativity to get his side back into the game. This game is so close, the 5/2 on offer for a draw is too tempting to ignore.
Lyon Vs Lens
Sun 12th 19:45 GMT
After the Monaco Vs PSG clash on Saturday, this is game of the week on paper. However, both teams are in an inconsistent run of form. Since beating PSG 3-1, Lens have only won 1 of their last 5 – three of those being draws at strugglers Strasbourg, Troyes and Brest. Franck Haise side’s form has dipped in the spring in each of the past 2 seasons and it looks to be going that way again.
Lyon on the other hand are a law onto themselves. Laurent Blanc’s head is already on the chopping block after 18pts from a possible 36 in 12 Ligue 1 games. I’ve been vocal in the past about his successor Peter Bosz but it could be said that Blanc is even more unsuited to the job. With only 4 clean sheets between both sides in their last 10 games each, both teams to score is a good play. However, over 2.5 goals has a bit more juice and looks a better price in what should be an open game.
Smart Bets
Abdallah Sima Anytime @ 11/4 (1pt win)
Nantes v Lorient Draw @ 5/2 (2pt win)
Lyon Vs Lens Over 2.5 Goals @ 10/11 (1pt win)
Above in treble (best priced): 24/1 (1pt win)
