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| Week 3 of the French Ligue 1 gets underway on Friday when champions Monaco travel to Metz |
PSG, Lyon and Monaco will be gunning to keep their winning streaks going when gameweek three gets underway this Friday evening. With just two weeks left until the first international break of the season, the big boys will be looking to put some points between each other. At present, only goal difference separates the top five sides with Lyon and PSG top of the pile due to them both having a goal differential of plus five.
It’s a similar tale at the bottom end of the log with the bottom six sides all on zero points. Surprisingly enough, Nice are one of the teams yet to claim a point this term and Les Aiglons will need to turn things around fast if they are to challenge for a European berth.
Friday 18 August
13/2 Metz | Draw 4/1 | Monaco 7/20 (20:45)
Metz and Monaco get things underway this Friday. The hosts are finding their second season in the French top tier a much tougher prospect than their first as they have suffered back-to-back defeats with their latest loss coming away to Bordeaux. Defending champions Monaco are having no such problems this term and have won their opening two games. Monaco should have no problems seeing off this plucky yet limited Metz outfit. Get on the away win at 7/20!
Saturday 19 August
6/10 Lyon | 3/1 | Bordeaux 39/10 (17:00)
Log-leading Lyon take on Bordeaux in Saturday’s opening fixture. The hosts have gotten their 2017/18 campaign off to a flying start, bagging two wins, while scoring six goals. Bordeaux have also been impressive this season, winning one and drawing their other fixture. This should be a rather tight affair but my money is on Lyon making it three wins on the spin – get on at 6/10!
5/10 St. Etienne | 31/10 | Amiens 11/2 (20:00)
Amiens will be looking to register their first point of the season when they take on St Etienne this Saturday. The visitors have gone down by 2-0 scorelines in their first two games, losing to PSG in gameweek 1 and Angers in gameweek 2. St. Etienne have enjoyed a much more positive start to the season and are yet to taste defeat. Yes, the home win is rather short but it is an absolute banker – be sure to add it to all of your multiples this weekend.
6/10 Rennes | 29/10 | Dijon 9/2 (20:00)
Like Metz, Dijon are suffering from second-season syndrome and are yet to register a point. They currently sit at the foot of the table with a negative goal differential of (-6). Rennes haven’t enjoyed that much of a better start to their campaign and only have a solitary point under their belt. I think we may see an upset here. Dijon know their backs are up against a wall but they proved that they are a bunch of fighters last season. It’s on the speculative side but I’ll be having a R15 strike on the away win this weekend.
7/10 Montpellier | 11/4 | Strasbourg 38/10 (20:00)
Strasbourg will be looking to build on their 3-0 victory over Lille when they take on a Montpellier side that went down 1-0 to Toulouse last time out. I really don’t think it’s worth the risk backing the Montpellier win as there’s just not enough value there for my liking. Strasbourg showed that they are capable enough in front of goal last week and I can see them finding the back of the net here. I’m going to have a crack on the Both Teams to Score – Yes – market which is currently trading at 7/10.
15/10 Troyes | 2/1 | Nantes 19/10 (20:00)
The most impressive of the new boys, Troyes, play host to a winless Nantes side this Saturday. This is one of those games where I’ve picked my winner before even having to read through the stats – I did read through the stats and it only made me more confident about my decision, so fret not dear reader. I’m all over the hosts to bag their second win of the season by getting one over an out of shape Nantes side.
9/10 Nice | 49/20 | Guingamp 3/1 (20:00)
Struggling Nice will be looking to arrest their poor early season form when they play host to Guingamp. The visitors were absolutely torn apart by PSG last time out, going down 3-0 to the title favourites. Nice really do need a win here and I reckon their desperation will get them over the line. Back the home team to finally come good at 9/10!
Sunday 20 August
13/20 Lille | 26/10 | Caen 4/1 (15:00)
Lille will be looking to bounce back from their embarrassing defeat to Strasbourg when they play host to Caen in the first of Sunday’s two fixtures. Caen also come into this one off the back of a defeat as they went down 1-0 to St Etienne on their own turf. Lille were not helped by a red card this past week and I can see them turning on the style as they did in the opening gameweek. My money is on the hosts bouncing back with a win here.
1/10 PSG | 15/2 | Toulouse 20/1 (21:00)
Big spenders PSG will be looking to make it three wins on the trot when they take on Toulouse in the final game of the week. The hosts were in all-conquering form during the previous gameweek as they downed Guingamp 3-0 with new boy Neymar bossing proceedings. Toulouse also come into this one off the back of a win, although, a 1-0 victory is hardly going to strike fear into the hearts of PSG. I’m expecting PSG to turn on the style again here. Back them on the (-1) Handicap at 1/4.
TREBLE @ 4/1
Lyon Win 6/10
Troyes Win 15/10
PSG (-1) Handicap 1/4
Written by Darry Worthington
