Lorient v Lyon
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Friday 4th March – 8:00PM KO
Lorient continued their fight against relegation last weekend by winning 1-0 in Brest – the first time in over a year that they had won on the road. It continued a positive trend for the Breton side, who won just one point in eight games before Christmas but have been far more competitive since the winter break.
The Bretons have had a good deal of success this season playing Ligue 1’s biggest teams at home. They have recorded wins over Monaco, Lille, Nice and Lens – four clubs fighting for European football – and have also drawn against PSG. This type of fixture is, therefore, something of a speciality of theirs.
Lyon, meanwhile, travel with a reputation of slipping up against such opponents. Peter Bosz’s side have, however, recorded narrow victories over relegation battlers Troyes and Saint-Etienne in 2022.One common theme in both these team’s matches lately has been a lack of goals. None of Lyon’s last nine Ligue 1 matches have produced more than two goals, while backing against both teams to score would have been a winner in five of their last six.
Similarly, five of Lorient’s last seven have produced under three goals as well as 10 of their 12 home encounters so far this season.
Backing against both teams to score at 2.0 certainly offers some value, but after these clubs drew 1-1 earlier this season, betting on under three goals is where the best value can be found. It would have been a winner five of the last eight times these sides have met.
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Prediction: Under 2.5 Goals, 1.91 on Betfair (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Lens v Brest
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Saturday 5th March – 4:00PM KO
Lens host Brest on Saturday with the two sides battling to find their best form. Although Lens are undefeated in three, they have not played well in these matches, while their guests at the weekend have won only two matches in nine since a club record six-game winning streak ended in early December.
Lens won at Angers last weekend but were 1-0 down and struggling before the home side were reduced to 10 men. Meanwhile, Brest were beaten 1-0 in a home derby encounter against Lorient, though an early dismissal for centre-back Brendan Chardonnet counted against them in that match.
The visitors have not travelled well lately. They were held 1-1 by an injury ravaged Reims side a fortnight ago and before that had lost to both Rennes and Paris Saint-Germain 2-0. They will expect a similar test at Stade Bollaert.
Lens have lost only two of their 13 home league games this term, with their last outing ending in a 1-1 draw against Lyon a fortnight ago.
The hosts have not impressed defensively lately, with a rotation policy for their goalkeepers not helping matters. Indeed, they have not kept a cleansheet in their last six league games, while they have only one shutout in their last 13. Having scored six times in three games, they are at least finding the net.
Brest, meanwhile, are looking better offensively, with Martin Satriano scoring three in three starts since joining from Inter on loan. After winning 4-0 against Lens earlier this season at home, this is a team they know the way to goal against.
Everything is pointing to both teams scoring in this game.
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Prediction: Both Teams to Score, 1.73 on Betfair (⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Nice v PSG
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Saturday 5th March – 8:00PM KO
Saturday’s showpiece fixture sees Nice host PSG fresh from qualifying for the Coupe de France final on Tuesday thanks to a victory over part-time club Versailles on Tuesday.
PSG were among Nice’s victims on the way to Stade de France and the runaway league leaders have not fared well against Christophe Galtier’s side this season. Indeed, both fixtures have ended scoreless.
Having coached Lille to the title last season, Galtier has persistently got the better of Mauricio Pochettino. Last season when the coaches met in the league, Galtier masterminded a 1-0 victory for his team in Paris.
Meanwhile, PSG may have their thoughts elsewhere as they travel to the Allianz Riviera for this match. After all, they have a critical trip to Real Madrid coming in midweek, which could prompt some changes in the starting XI. In any case, Kylian Mbappe has a one-match ban to serve and will not be available for this game – a huge blow.
PSG have not been as reliable as expected on the road in any case this season. They have won only one of their last five trips in Ligue 1 and a fortnight ago were defeated 3-1 away at Nantes.
Historically, this is a fixture they have dominated down the years, winning 13 of their previous 17 in Nice, but given their poor recent away form, the lack of Mbappe and a focus on Real Madrid, the home side’s chances should not be readily discounted prior to this match.
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Prediction: Nice Double Chance, 2.0 on Betfair (⭐️⭐️⭐️)
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