In the first match Guingamp, who recently lost 2:0 to a revitalized Nice, will play Strasbourg, who managed to surprise punters with a draw away at Montpellier. In the other game Angers, who performed exceptionally against Marseille in 1:1 draw, will take on Lille, who lost unexpectedly once again to Caen at home.
Guingamp vs. Strasbourg
3-Way: 1: Guingamp +102; X: +260 Draw; 2: Strasbourg +380
Spread -0.5: Guingamp -105; Strasbourg +102
Total +2.5: Over +120; Under -130
Guingamp
A disappointing result and performance saw Guingamp lose their second Ligue 1 game in a row in a 2:0 loss away to Nice. With Nice looking like the brighter side of the two, they eventually converted a chance on half-time to open the scoring, with Alassane Pléa finding it far too easy to hold off two Guingamp defenders who should have got closer to their man. Nice added the second shortly after half time,as Guingamp once again failed to get close to Nice goal scorerRémi Walter who simply poked it into the back of the net. Later in the game, Guingamp came close through an Adrien Tameze header which was well saved, but that was as close as they came to hitting the back of the net.
Although Guingamp had a respectable ten shots overall, but they created few clear-cut chances throughout the game. Further disappointment will be that Guingamp gifted Nice their first win of the Ligue 1 season, and they have looked poor themselves this season so far. With new Ligue 1 side Strasbourg to play next, manager Antoine Kombouaréwill see the coming game as a must win for his team.
Antoine Kombouaré will have a full squad selection for Sunday’s game.
Strasbourg
Strasbourg achieved a pleasing result against Montpellier and they gained a vital point in Ligue 1 away from home. The reigning Ligue 2 champions struck first after Idriss Saadi poked home from a low-cross. Despite the first goal, Strasbourg were lucky not to conceded after some pressure from their opponents. Eventually their luck run out as Montpellier replied through Daniel Congré as he latched on to a loose ball from a cross, with no Strasbourg defenders picking up the free man,to thrust it into the roof of the net. A late wrongly ruled offside goal drew sighs of relief from Strasbourg, as it would have meant a 2:1 score-line and a very different mood in the Strasbourg camp.
A draw away at Montpellier is a good result for Strasbourg, very good when you consider they had just on one shot at goal over the duration of the game. Saying that they did manage three goals at home to Lille in the previous weekend, so it perhaps is not as much of a concern as it seems.
Strasbourg has made one recent signing, with winger Martin Terrier coming in from Lille on Loan.
Thierry Laurey will be without any injury or suspension woes.
Guingamp vs.Strasbourg – MATCH PREDICTION
Although Guingamp has won just one from three Ligue 1 matches, the two losses were against teams who finished 2nd and 3rd last season and Guingamp would not have expected to win. Strasbourg on the other hand has defied expectations but were extremely lucky not to lose to Montpellier.
Overall, I believe Guingamp should have more quality than their rivals and deliver the win to their home crowd.
MY PICK: Guingamp to win (+102)
Angers vs. Lille
3-Way: 1: Angers +131; X: +236 Draw; 2: Lille +292
Spread -0.5: Angers +135; Lille -130
Total +2.5: Over +131; Under -139
Angers
A 1:1 draw away to Marseille was a pleasing result for an Angers side that is still unbeaten this Ligue 1 campaign. It was Marseille took the initiative after 17 minutes, as N’Jie controlled the ball after a short scramble in the box, he then touched the ball over his head to go through on goal and finish into the corner of the goal. Despite the early goal, Angers had a few good chances of their own, including a quick-counter that saw striker Enzo Crivelli go one-on-one with the keeper but he couldn’t find the necessary finish. Eventually, Angers goat the goal they deserved as Karl Toto Ekambi scored an excellent curling shot after cutting in from wide. Although there was a 94th-minute red card for Marseille’s Lucas Ocampos after a high-footed challenge, it did little to affect the game.
Overall it was an even game at the Stade Vélodrome, Angers did particularly well in dulling Marseille attacks and were also good on the counter, inflicting Marseille’s first conceded Ligue 1 goal on one of those counter-attacks. A further reason for content is that they are still unbeaten in Ligue 1 after three games, a remarkable improvement on last season when they lost all three of their first three games.
Manager Stéphane Moulin will be without any injury or suspension woes for Sunday’s game.
Lille
Lille suffered a second terrible defeat as they lost at home 2:0 to Caen who finished 17th last season in Ligue 1. Caen scored first with a headed goal in in the inside of the post as the Lille goalkeeper and defender seemed to get in each other’s way on the byline and neither was able to keep the ball out. Throughout the game, Lille had a number of chances to score, but nothing ever seemed to come together and overall some of Lille’s attacking and defensive play was awkward and sometimes even laughable. To add to Les Dogues woes, Caen added a second as a cross found its way to Ivan Santini to slam the ball in from close-range to make it 2:0.
With two losses to relegation candidates and a relatively easy-looking start to their league campaign, poor results have already put new manager Marcelo Bielsa under pressure to produce results and avoid his football club becoming a comedy club. As a team, Lille looks like they are rushed and nervous on the field, a vast contrast to their opening day 3:0 win against Nantes. With most of Lille’s signings being youthful additions, perhaps Marcelo Bielsa has been over-reliant on inexperience and may look to add some Ligue 1 experience.
There has been one interesting transfer development at Lille, with Éder, who most may remember as the man who scored the Euro 2016 final winner for Portugal just over a year ago, moving to Lokomotiv Moscow on loan.
Marcelo Bielsa will be without center-back Adama Soumaoro (Achilles tendon rupture), right-back Kévin Malcuit (wound) and defensive-midfielder Thiago Mendes (wound) all through injury. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan will also be out through his suspension.
Angers vs.Lille- MATCH PREDICTION
This will be an interesting matchup, with one team, Angers, performing way above expectations, and another, Lille, performing way below expectations. With that in consideration and the home advantage, I would have to go for an Angers win, but Lille should eventually bounce back and they could easily find their feet in this game with some luck.
MY PICK: Angers to win (+131)
Additional Pick: Both teams to score YES (+104)
