Lionel Messi has joined Paris Saint-Germain! All eyes will be on the Ligue 1 this weekend with the football legend going through to the league, but there is much on offer and the odds are looking to be in our favour. Let’s get right into the action, and check out that juicy multiple!
Friday 13 August
Lorient 36/10
Draw 26/10
Monaco 15/20
(21:00)
After failing to win three opening Ligue 1 fixtures in a row, Monaco will look to build momentum when they travel to Lorient’s Yves Allainmat – Le Moustoir. A midweek UEFA Champions league victory over Sparta Prague in which Cesc Fabregas played his 110 UCL fixture will be a definite confidence booster for the squad.
Gelson Martins has now scored a goal in back-to-back fixtures for Monaco. The Monaco captain, Wissam Ben Yedder, is leading from the frontline and we can see why the captaincy was placed on his shoulders.
The home team also played to a 1-1 draw when they faced Saint-Etienne in their season opener which was less convincing than their current opposition. To get the bank roll thicker before all the action kicks off, put a hefty sum on Monaco to steam roll the home team.
Saturday 14 August
Lille 17/20
Draw 49/20
Nice 34/10
(17:00)
After a great defensive display last season, which in my opinion won Lille the league, they shockingly conceded three in their opener against Metz. However, the defending champions were very creative in the final third creating 17 shots at goal and putting three of those in the back of the net with non-other than Burak Yilmaz opening the scoring for Les Dogues.
Lille only lost twice at home last season, but that was under a different manager in Christopher Galtier, who now manages the opposition, Nice. Galtier did not have a great preseason winning just one of his club friendlies and firing a blank in his first Ligue 1 matchup.
Nice have a handful of injuries with midfielders Morgan Schneiderlin and Alexis Claude Maurice both expected to miss out with a few doubts like right winger Calvin Stengs, central midfielder Alexis Trouillet, and centre forward Evann Guessand.
It’s an interesting watch with the defending champions up against their old boss at the Stade Pierre Mauroy, and it would be a difficult call with Galtier having the “low down” on most of the players so back Both Teams To Score (Yes) at 19/20.
Paris Saint-Germain 1/5
Draw 6/1
Strasbourg 11/1
(21:00)
Paris Saint-Germain have done thee unthinkable, and signed the “unsingable,” Lionel Messi.
Last season’s Ligue 1 title defeat could be due to the importance placed on the UEFA Champions league, and this season is not any different with the additions made to the squad. I do believe that the transfers that have taken place over the summer add an immense depth to the squad and Mauricio Pochettino will have no excuse this time to go all out for every trophy.
Messi is up and running at PSG and has already been apart of his first training. Being the player that he is I’m sure he will be rearing to go and could make his first possible start against Strasbourg with the fans in the Parc des Princes in full chant, “Messi, Messi, Messi,” as they did at the player’s presentation.
I see no other outcome in this fixture with PSG beating the away team 4-0 and 1-4 last season. Back the Parisians on a -2 handicap at 5/4.
Sunday 15 August
Angers 32/10
Draw 28/10
Lyon 8/10
(13:00)
Angers won their opening Ligue 1 match 2-0 at Stade de le Meinau against Strasbourg, whilst Lyon played out to a 1-1 draw against Brest last gameweek.
Lyon have gotten the better of the Black and Whites in the last 10 matchups with eight wins and two draws, and The Olympians have had an impressive away record last season losing just one match on the road.
The opening of the season always comes with edgy results, but it’s gameweek two and players will start to find their feet. Lyon at 8/10 are great odds to go by.
Nantes 13/10
Draw 43/20
Metz 9/4
(15:00)
Nantes held Monaco to a 1-1 draw in their league opener, while Metz put three passed Lille to secure one point against the defending champions.
Antoine Kombouare did an excellent job to steer Nantes away from relegation last campaign and has his team going toe to toe with Lille, but an unfit centre-forward in Kalifa Coulibaly could jeopardize the attack’s fire power.
Metz have not been beaten by Nantes in the last five fixtures with the last being a 2-0 win at the Canaries home grounds. Straight bet Metz at 9/4 is the value bet for the weekend you can put in a multiple to beef up the cash.
Clermont Foot 21/20
Draw 49/20
Troyes 26/10
(15:00)
Scraping the barrel on Sunday in terms of football entertainment Clermont Foot host Troyes at the Gabriel Montpied. While for us this entertainment might not be intriguing, the teams’ mangers, players, and fans will be on the edge of their seats in the hopes of claiming maximum points.
Clermont Foot got off to winning ways against Bordeaux with a comfortable 2-0 win on the road and now play their first home fixture in Ligue 1 for the season.
In Ligue 2 last season, each team got three points over the other, and calling the winner is as close as the odds-on offer. Select a 90-minute draw between the newly promoted squads.
Brest 2/1
Draw 47/20
Rennes 13/10
(15:00)
Rennes opened their campaign over the weekend with a 1-1 draw and the promising teenager Kamaldeen Sulemana pulled one out the top draw in his debut to secure a point for the Red and Blacks. While the home team held Lyon at a stale draw as well.
Rennais won 2-1 home and away last campaign, but now new manager Bruno Genesio might have something to prove in his second game of the season.
Genesio was backed by the board with 35 million euros to spend and one of his signings has come through so far in the aforementioned Sulemana, with Loic Bade set to start at centre-back and ex-Nimes winger Birger Meling already putting in a full shift in their last match.
Stade Rennais to win at 13/10 is a good bet on the away team.
Reims 33/20
Draw 43/20
Montpellier 7/4
(15:00)
Reims haven’t been beaten by Montpellier in the league in their previous four games but have also not won in their last nine home games and something has to give.
Montpellier come off a 3-2 defeat to Marseille but to be fair to Montpellier, Marseille is a side to be feared this season and going toe-to-toe with them was not the right decision from Olivier Dall’Oglio.
Montpellier were able to create, and they were able to score, but stopping Reims is viable compared to their previous opponents. Montpellier’s first game to secure three points is right here, and it’s at 7/4.
Lens 1/1
Draw 5/2
Saint-Etienne 26/10
(17:00)
Lens host Saint-Etienne on Sunday afternoon looking to keep the momentum going after their opening day draw with rivals Rennes.
Meanwhile, Les Verts are off the back of a comeback draw with Lorient. As far as Saint-Etienne are concerned, there are many who feel Claude Puel is fortunate to still be manager after just 24 wins from 71 matches.
Lens at even money goes straight into the multiple purely based on their opponents.
Marseille 11/20
Draw 32/10
Bordeaux 48/10
(20:45)
If you read the last preview, you know I am loving Marseille as big outsiders to make a title run without PSG.
The last matchup at Stade Matmut-Atlantique ended in a 0-0 draw. However, the seasoned veteran Dimitri Payet lead Marseille’s escapades over Montpellier with a brace. The team has been looking menacing with a staggering 21 shots at goal with seven on target.
Bordeaux were uninspiring against newly-promoted Clermont Foot, you’d expect a lot more from the Ligue 1 staples. Marseille winners at 11/20 is of no value, so backing Marseille on the Matchbet & Over 2.5 at 27/20 is enticing.
TREBLE @ 11/1
Monaco Win 15/20
Lens Win 1/1
Marseille Win & Over 2.5 Goals 27/20
Written by Joshua Gaillard