FANCY a bet from France? Mark O’Haire (@MarkOHaire) has scoured the league for the best bets this weekend.
Lens v Lyon | Saturday 16.00
The Ligue 1 title race took another incredible twist last weekend with Lyon now taking over the lead following their convincing win against Toulouse. Marseille and PSG were both beaten meaning four sides can now be separated by just four points. Thrilling stuff.
Lyon are priced up at 9/10 (BetVictor) to continue their magnificent form on Saturday as they visit Lens and it’s a price worth backing. Les Gones have been victorious in 13 of their last 16 matches and with Alexandre Lacazette in unstoppable form; it’s difficult to see how Lens can put a halt to Hubert Fournier’s team.
The hosts have plummeted to 19th and lost 11 of their 20 Ligue 1 games already this season, suffered defeats in all three fixtures when entertaining top-six sides and have a pretty dismal home record of W3-D2-L4 in their nine outings.
And their head-to-head record with Lyon is also quite bleak. Seven defeats in nine meetings and the hosts have failed to score in six of those! So backing Lyon to seal another three points and cement their place at the top of the table looks a great bet at 9/10.
Toulouse v Bastia | Saturday 19.00
Toulouse’s loss at Lyon last Sunday was their eighth in 11 league matches and this weekend they must do without a whole host of their top performers, due to African Cup of Nations duty.
Toulouse have won just once in seven in front of their home supporters and will be without left back Issiaga Sylla, right back Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro, and centre back Steve Yago along with defensive midfieder Tongo Doumbia and punters are advised to oppose Les Pitchouns for the visit of Bastia.
The Corsicans travel to Toulouse on the back of a remarkable victory over PSG and naturally confidence will be up. It also means Ghislain Printant’s travellers have now taken seven points from a possible nine to move away from the relegation zone and even bagged a cup win in midweek.
Bastia also hold the Indian sign over their hosts having avoided defeat in five top tier games since returning to Ligue 1 and losing just once in the last 12 league meetings between the two teams.
BetVictor are offering the peculiar price of 68/67 on Bastia +0.50 in the Asian Handicap market and it’s good enough for me. It means we’ll be paid out should the visitors avoid defeat against a depleted Toulouse team.
Best Bets
Lens v Lyon – Lyon to win (9/10 BetVictor)
Toulouse v Bastia – Bastia +0.50 Asian Handicap (68/67 BetVictor)
