The French Ligue 1 goes on this midweek with the Round 15 matches, and in this preview, we would like to take a closer look at two games set for Wednesday, November 29th, 2017, when Nantes welcomes Monaco at Stade de la Beaujoire, while Toulouse hosts Nice at Stadium Municipal de Toulouse.
Down below you will find some interesting tips and betting predictions for these two exciting games, so don’t waste your time and join the action here on GetMoreSports.
NANTES vs. MONACO
3-Way: 1: Nantes +300; X: +256 Draw; 2: Monaco +116 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread +0.5: Nantes -114; Monaco +110
Total +2.5: Over +114; Under -116
NANTES
The Canaries are having a respectable start of the season, but their form is descending recently, as they lost three out of their last Ligue 1 games. In the previous round of the French Ligue 1 Nantes were beaten by Rennes on the road, 2:1, while two weeks ago they’ve lost to Paris SG, 4:1. Nantes had a quiet game against Rennes when they took just one shot on target, and it was Emiliano Sala’s goal from the penalty spot. They are playing a pretty trashy defense at the moment, and they couldn’t keep their net intact for six games in a row. In the next round, The Canaries meet Monaco, so they need a quick reaction if they want to avoid another defeat.
After the first 14 rounds of the French Ligue 1, The Canaries are sitting at the fifth spot of the table with 23 points, a 13:15 goal difference, and a 7-2-5 record. They’ve won four matches in a row at Stade de la Beaujoire along with one draw and one defeat with a 6:3 goal difference. On the road, they have a decent 3-1-4 record (sixth in the league) with a 7:12 goal difference, but they’ve lost three consecutive matches away from home.
The 27-year old striker Emiliano Sala is the team’s leading scorer with four goals in 13 appearances, and he scored two times in the last three games. The 30-year old striker Prejuce Nakoulma and the 23-year old midfielder Adrien Thomasson scored two goals each, while the right-back Leo Dubois is the team’s best assist-maker with three dishes in 12 matches so far.
The manager Claudio Ranieri will miss the striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson (meniscus tear), and the midfielder Kayembe (cruciate ligament rupture) for the next match with Monaco, while all other players are ready to go.
MONACO
Monaco had a tough time against Paris SG last weekend, and despite a narrow 2:0 loss, they were completely outplayed by the Parisians, and it could have been a much worse with a few goals more in Monaco’s net. On the other side, they’ve managed to create just three scoring opportunities for 90 minutes, and that one goal scored came after Joao Moutinho’s deflected free kick. It was Monaco’s second consecutive defeat after a heavy 4:1 loss against RB Salzburg in the UEFA Champions League Round 5, and they are winless for three matches in a row, including a 1:1 draw with Amiens in the previous Ligue 1 clash.
The Red and Whites are in the third spot of the French Ligue 1 table after the first 14 rounds with 29 points, a 36:15 goal difference and a 9-2-3 record, nine points behind the leader Paris SG. Monaco has recorded five wins on the home soil, along with one draw and a defeat against The Parisians, and a 22:6 goal difference in total. On the road, they’ve recorded four victories, one draw, and two losses with a 14:9 goal difference.
The 31-year old striker Radamel Falcao is the team’s top scorer with 13 goals in 11 Ligue 1 appearances, but the team needs more from other players. The winger Rony Lopes bagged two goals and made five assists in 14 matches, while the experienced playmaker Joao Moutinho scored one goal and made four assists in 11 apps thus far. The talented winger Thomas Lemar bagged one goal along with three dishes in 10 matches this season, but he’s struggling with a shoulder injury.
The manager Leonardo Jardim will probably miss Thomas Lemar for the next match with Nantes, while all other players are healthy and ready to go.
NANTES vs. MONACO – Match Prediction
This one is a derby of the Round 15, and I expect a close game, probably with a stalemate in the end. Nantes is having a lot of problems at the back recently, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we see some goals on both sides.
MY PICK: Both Teams to Score YES (-110)
ADDITIONAL PICK: Draw (+256)
TOULOUSE vs. NICE
3-Way: 1: Toulouse +184; X: +220 Draw; 2: Nice +202 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread 0: Toulouse -112; Nice +106
Total +2: Over -123; Under +120
TOULOUSE
Toulouse is winless in the previous four rounds of the French Ligue 1, recording two nil-nil draws at home with Saint Etienne and Metz, and two losses on the road against Nantes, 2:1, and Dijon, 3:1. In the previous match against Dijon, Max Gradel missed the penalty kick in the fifth minute, which led to another poor display and an easy defeat. After the first 14 rounds, they are in the 14th place of the French Ligue 1 table with 16 points, a 13:20 goal difference and a 4-4-6 record, just two points above the danger zone.
They are the second most inefficient team in the league at home where they’ve scored just five goals in six matches, conceding three goals in a return, which makes their defense the best in the league on the home soil. They’ve recorded three wins, two draws, and one defeat in front of the home fans, while they’ve earned just five points on the road with a 1-2-5 record and an 8:17 goal difference. Toulouse was never behind at the halftime on the home soil, four times it was a draw, and two times they were in front after the first 45 minutes.
The 26-year old striker Andy Delort and a 28-year old winger Jimmy Durmaz are the team’s top scorers with three goals each, while the 20-year old centre-back Issa Diop bagged two goals in 11 matches this season. Andy Delort is the best assist-maker with three dishes in 14 appearances, while the 21-year old midfielder Alexis Blin made two assists in 12 apps this season, also adding one goal to his name.
The manager Pascal Dupraz will miss the centre-back Steven Fortes (knee problems) for the next game against Nice, while Jimmy Durmaz is still doubtful due to a groin strain.
NICE
Nice’s players were humiliated in front of the home fans in the previous round of the French Ligue 1 when they were beaten to the bone by mighty Lyon, 5:0. It was the biggest defeat on the home soil in Nice’s history and surely a massive disgrace to their fans.
The Eaglets are playing poorly since the start of the season, as they’ve failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stage, while they are in the 18th spot of the French Ligue 1 table after the first 14 rounds with 14 points, a 15:25 goal difference and a 4-2-8 record. This is their worst record in the last five years, and we’ll see in the following weeks how they cope with the pressure. Nice was poor at home so far with just 10 points earned in eight matches, while they were awful on the road where they’ve recorded four points in six games with a terrible 2:10 goal difference.
The controversial striker Mario Balotelli is the team’s leading scorer with six goals in nine Ligue 1 appearances, the striker Alassane Plea bagged three goals in 14 matches, while the winger Pierre Lees Melou added two goals in 14 apps this season. Alassane Plea and Pierre Lees Melou are the team’s best assist-makers with three dishes each.
The manager Lucien Favre is on the verge to lose the job, and he just needs to make some changes as soon as possible. For the next match he’ll be without the midfielder Wylan Cyprien (cruciate ligament rupture), and the striker Mickael Le Bihan (broken tibia).
TOULOUSE vs. NICE – Match Prediction
Both teams are struggling recently, so this clash is pretty important for their self-confidence. Toulouse is a tough opponent at home, but I expect to see Nice’s players to show some pride after a disaster in the previous match with Lyon. It will be a tough game in both halves, but I will place my bet on the draw after the first 45 minutes.
MY PICK: Draw at Half-Time (+102)
