
The French league will resume this weekend with 18 teams in action and plenty of value on offer from a betting perspective. Don’t miss out on our 8/1 double as well as some other selections that are well worth adding to your multiples. Good luck and happy punting!
Standings provided by SofaScore LiveScore
Friday 28 August
Draw 4/1
Dijon 15/2
(21:00)
Lyon were impressive in the past few weeks while competing in the UEFA Champions League and upset the applecart against the likes of Juventus and Manchester City, before falling to eventual champions Bayern Munich in the semi-finals. Rudi Garcia will be sweating in the transfer market with a few top clubs linked to their hot property, 22-year old French midfielder Houssem Aouar amongst others. Lyon can’t provide European football this campaign after finishing seventh courtesy of the controversial points per game system used to complete last season, making it more difficult for their players to resist the allure of playing for the best clubs in Europe. Dijon managed to survive relegation by the skin of their teeth despite having the worst away record last season, scoring just seven times in 14 games on their travels. Last April the visitors pulled off a shock 3-1 victory at the Groupama Stadium and Les Gones will be out to avenge the humiliating defeat, my money is on Home to Win Both Halves (Yes) at 39/20.
Saturday 29 August
Draw 47/20
Montpellier 29/10
(17:00)
Rennes enjoyed a fantastic 2019/20 season qualifying for the Champions League following a third-placed finish and were unfortunate not to reach the Coupe de France final, losing 2-1 to St. Etienne in the semi-finals. Veteran Steven Nzonzi and 17-year old Eduardo Camavinga offer the Red and Blacks the perfect blend of pace, power and determination in midfield to get attacks started off in the right tempo. M'Baye Niang will be aiming to better last season’s league tally of 10 goals in 28 appearances for coach Julien Stephan. Montpellier endured poor away form winning just once in 14 matches on the road and will be keen on improving that record this campaign. South African fans will be hoping midfielder Keagan Dolly features more regularly for La Paillade, the stage is set for the 27-year old to cement first team football. Rennes did the double over the visitors last season and the winning streak is expected to continue at 19/20.
Sunday 30 August
Draw 2/1
Lille 15/10
(13:00)
Reims return to the Stade Auguste-Delaune II stadium after effectively letting two points slip at Monaco in a 2-2 stalemate. The Red and Whites were 2-0 up but succumbed to the pressure conceding either side of the half time whistle to settle for a share of the spoils. On home soil, David Guion’s men were tough to break down, conceding just seven goals past goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic in 14 Ligue 1 games. Lille will come into the clash without their first choice left-back Reinildo Mandava who was shown red last time out and centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes who is on the verge of joining Arsenal. Top goal-scorer Victor Osimhen has already been signed by Napoli which will further compound issues for Christophe Galtier who needs a squad that is capable of competing in both Ligue 1 and the UEFA Europa League. Under 2.5 Goals is a banker in this matchup at 5/10 but the draw is also well worth a punt a 2/1 odds.
Draw 43/20
Bordeaux 51/20
(15:00)
Draw 22/10
Lorient 22/10
(15:00)
Coupe de France runners-up Saint-Etienne will begin their Ligue 1 campaign when they host newly-promoted Lorient, who return to the top division after a four-season absence. Claude Puel’s Saints will be without highly-rated centre-back William Saliba who left the green of Les Stephanois for the red of Arsenal. Ryad Boudebouz and Yann M'Vila are now experienced heads in the dressing room and will need to help nurture talents like Denis Bouanga. The Gabon international was the leading goal-scorer last season and it may prove to be a good omen for Saint-Etienne, the last Gabonese forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang represented this team with distinction. Lorient returned to the top-flight with a 3-1 win against Strasbourg thanks to three goals in the second half. The visitors have Julien Laporte at the heart of their defence, brother of Man City’s Aymeric Laporte. A cagey and hard-fought affair is expected, red cards feature heavily when these sides meet. Take Draw in the Half Time market at even money, get on!
Nantes 9/10
Draw 47/20
Nimes 34/10
(15:00)
Metz 26/10
Draw 24/10
Monaco 21/20
(15:00)
Draw 47/20
Nice 23/10
(17:00)
Strasbourg suffered a 3-1 defeat last Sunday at newly-promoted Lorient, while Nice beat the other newcomers Lens by a 2-1 score-line. The hosts might have the advantage in this fixture seeing as both sides excelled on home soil but found it more difficult on their travels. Ludovic Ajorque and Adrien Thomasson will be tasked with getting the goals for the Racers as South African striker Lebo Mothiba recovers from his knee injury. Amine Gouiri’s brace helped Nice to victory last time out but Kasper Dolberg is expected to get in the goals for the Eagles as well in the upcoming matches. Under 2.5 Goals is the way to go at 8/10.
Draw 26/10
Marseille 1/1
(21:00)
DOUBLE @ 8/1
Lyon - Home to Win Both Halves (Yes) 39/20
Reims vs Lille – Draw 2/1
Reims vs Lille – Draw 2/1
Written by Bryan Naicker