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| Who will make the most of this weekend’s fixtures? Let’s take a look and see if we can find out. |
It may be a shortened preview due to Metz and PSG playing on Tuesday evening but there’s still some fantastic value on offer for gameweek 34 of the 2016/17 Ligue 1 season. Last week saw the status quo at the top of the table maintained with Monaco, PSG and Nice all winning their respective fixtures. It was a different story at the foot of the table with Lorient being drawn back into the thick of the relegation battle after a 2-0 loss to Montpellier. Who will make the most of this weekend’s fixtures? Let’s take a look and see if we can find out.
Friday 21 April
26/10 Nancy | Draw 47/20 | Marseille 1/1 (20:45)
We kick the gameweek off with a tie between Nancy and Marseille. The hosts currently sit just off the relegation places but only by virtue of goal difference. They come into this one off the back of a heavy 3-1 loss to Nice and will need to bounce back here in order to avoid slipping back into the bottom three. That will be easier said than done, however, as Marseille will come to town in buoyant mood after beating Saint Etienne 4-0. I can’t see anything but a Marseille win here. Yes, Nancy need the points but Marseille have been the better side during the back end of the season. Get on the away win at even money.
Saturday 22 April
5/4 Dijon | 9/4 | Angers 43/20 (20:00)
Onto Saturday now and we kick things off with a clash between Dijon and Angers. Dijon come into this one off the back of a spirited 2-1 defeat to Monaco while the visitors make the trip having lost 0-2 to PSG in gameweek 33. With both teams playing some decent attacking football, the Totals – Over 2.5 Goals – market looks a rather tantalising prospect. Get on at 19/20.
27/20 Caen | 22/10 | Nantes 2/1 (20:00)
Caen and Nantes are next up, and we should expect a rather decent game of football here. Caen will be desperate for a win as it would all but secure their survival, while Nantes come to town with little to play for with their place in Ligue 1 secure and the European qualifying berths a bridge too far for them. My money is on the hosts here as they have far more to play for at 27/20.
9/20 Bordeaux | 32/10 | Bastia 6/1 (20:00)
Saturday’s penultimate fixture sees Bordeaux and relegation favourites Bastia lock horns at the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux. The hosts come into this one off the back of a 1-0 win over Nantes while Bastia’s game against Lyon was called off due to crowd violence. Bastia are basically going through the motions at the moment with their prospects of surviving relegation extremely slim. My money is on the hosts compounding Bastia’s woes here. Get on the home win at 9/20.
11/10 Lille | 22/10 | Guingamp 49/20 (20:00)
Lille and Guingamp will bring the curtain down on Saturday’s action when they meet at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. The hosts basically need one more points to secure their survival while the visitors have little to play for with European qualification somewhat of a pipe dream at this point. The bookies have Lille priced at as favourites and I agree with that sentiment. The home win looks a solid bet at just over even money.
Sunday 23 April
31/20 Toulouse | 21/10 | Nice 18/10 (15:00)
Moving onto Sunday now and the first of the day’s three games sees Toulouse host Nice. Toulouse have produced a mixed-bag of results over the past three weeks, winning once, drawing once and losing once. Their opponents, on the other hand, have won their last three games. Nice at 18/10 is my bet for the gameweek. The visitors have been in immaculate touch in recent weeks and I can’t see them slipping up against a Toulouse side who have struggled to produce the goods over the last few gameweeks. The away win at 18/10 is an absolute steal.
21/20 St. Etienne | 43/20 | Rennes 28/10 (17:00)
St. Etienne and Rennes go head-to-head this Sunday in what can only be described as an exhibition match with both teams unlikely to qualify for Europe. The hosts come into this one off the back of a 4-0 trouncing at the hands of Marseille while the visitors come to town having beaten Lille 2-0. Both of these sides have been rather susceptible at the back, which makes the – Both Teams to Score – Yes – market my pick here. Get on at 21/20.
29/20 Lyon | 49/20 | Monaco 16/10 (21:15)
We close out the gameweek with a clash between Lyon and Monaco. The away side come into this one off the back of some impressive results as they saw off Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in their Champions League quarter-final and followed that up with a 2-1 league victory over Dijon. Lyon, on the other hand, have struggled for results of late, going down 4-1 to Lorient in gameweek 32. Both of these teams have midweek European ties to contend with but I think Lyon will be the worse for wear come Saturday as they have to travel to Turkey to take on Besiktas in an extremely hostile environment. As such, my money is going on the away win which is currently trading at 16/10.
TREBLE @ 13/1
Marseille Win 1/1
Nice Win 18/10
Monaco Win 16/10
Written by Darry Worthington
