The French Ligue 1 goes on this weekend with Round 16 matches, and in this preview, we’ll take a closer look at two games set for Saturday, December 2nd, 2017, when Monaco hosts Angers at Stade Louis II, while Nice welcomes Metz at Allianz Riviera.
Down below you will find some interesting picks for these two matches along with our betting predictions, so don’t waste your time and join the action here on GetMoreSports.
MONACO vs. ANGERS
3-Way: 1: Monaco -213; X: +455 Draw; 2: Angers +775 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -1.5: Monaco +114; Angers -118
Total +3: Over -109; Under +104
MONACO
In the previous round of the French Ligue 1 Monaco was beaten by Nantes on the road, 1:0, to record the third consecutive defeat in all competitions. They had a quite poor game, taking just one shot on target for 90 minutes, while the conceded the deciding goal in the dying minutes of the second half. The Red and Whites haven’t won a game in the Ligue 1 since November 4th when they’ve smashed Guingamp on the home soil, 6:0, and obviously, they are not the same team from the last year, as they have a lot of problems this season, particularly at the back.
After the first 15 rounds of the French Ligue 1, Monaco is sitting at the fourth spot of the table with 29 points, a 36:16 goal difference, and a 9-2-4 record. At home, The Red and Whites have recorded five victories, one draw, and one defeat with a 22:6 goal difference, while on the road they were beaten three times, along with four wins and one draw, and a 14:10 goal difference.
The Columbian striker Radamel Falcao is the team’s leading scorer in the French Ligue 1 with 13 goals in 12 appearances, while the winger Keita Balde and the midfielder Adama Traore bagged three goals each thus far. The 21-year old winger Rony Lopes is the team’s best assist-maker with five dishes in 15 appearances, while the playmaker Joao Moutinho and the right-back Almamy Toure are right behind him with four dishes apiece.
The manager Leonardo Jardim is still without the talented winger Thomas Lemar due to a shoulder injury, while all other players are healthy and ready to go.
ANGERS
Angers has suffered another defeat at Stade Raymond Kopa in the previous round of the French Ligue 1, as they were beaten by Rennes, 2:1. It was their fourth defeat on the home soil in seven matches this season, and the third in the previous five Ligue 1 games, along with two draws on the road against Guingamp and Strasbourg.
After the first 15 rounds of the French Ligue 1 Angers is in the 19th spot of the table with 14 points, an 18:25 goal difference, and a 2-8-5 record, one point behind Strasbourg in the safe 17th spot. They are still winless in front of the home fans, recording three draws and four losses with a 7:15 goal difference, while on the road they’ve recorded two victories, five draws, and one defeat with an 11:10 goal difference. Anger is struggling defensively in the last couple of weeks as they conceded 13 goals in the previous five matches.
The 25-year old striker Karl Toko Ekambi is the team’s leading scorer with six goals in 14 appearances, while midfielders Angelo Fulgini and Thomas Mangani added two goals each so far. These three players are the team’s best assist-makers with three dishes each this season. The 29-year old centre-back Romain Thomas is a key guy at the defensive line, as he played in all 15 Ligue 1 matches thus far, collecting two yellow cards.
The manager Stephane Moulin doesn’t have any serious injury problems among the squad, so he can field his best eleven against Monaco on Saturday evening.
MONACO vs. ANGERS – Match Prediction
Monaco desperately needs a win after some poor displays in the last few weeks, and I believe they will get three points, as Angers is playing in an awful form recently.
MY PICK: Monaco AH -1.5 (+114)
NICE vs. METZ
3-Way: 1: Nice -179; X: +369 Draw; 2: Metz +750 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -1: Nice -125; Metz +121
Total +2.5: Over -115; Under +110
NICE
After a shocking 5:0 defeat against Lyon at home in the 14th round of the French Ligue 1, The Eaglets have managed to bounce back in the previous match at Toulouse with a 2:1 win, even they were down at the halftime. It was their second victory in the last five matches, along with two defeats and one draw, but there are still a lot of worries for Lucien Favre and his boys.
Nice is currently sitting at the 14th spot of the French Ligue 1 table after the first 15 rounds with 17 points, a 17:26 goal difference, and a 5-2-8 record, just two points above the danger zone. They have recorded three victories, one draw, and four losses on the home soil with a 13:15 goal difference, while on the road they’ve earned two wins, one draw, and four losses with a 4:11 goal difference.
The 27-year old striker Mario Balotelli is the team’s leading scorer with seven goals in 10 appearances, while his colleague Alassane Plea bagged three goals along with three dishes in 14 matches this season. The winger Pierre-Lees Melou played in all 15 matches thus far, scoring two goals and making three assists, while the midfielder Jean Michael Seri added one goal and one assist to his name in nine appearances this season.
The manager Lucien Favre is still missing the midfielder Wylan Cyprien (cruciate ligament rupture) and the striker Mickael Le Bihan (broken tibia), while for the next match against Metz he’ll be without the centre-back Dante due to a red card suspension.
METZ
The Maroons are playing in a disastrous form since the start of the season, and it seems like they are already preparing for the Ligue 2 next season. In the previous round of the French Ligue 1, they suffered their 13th defeat in 15 matches this season, losing to Marseille in front of the home fans, 3:0. It was their fourth defeat in the previous five games, while they stayed goalless on those five occasions.
After the first 15 rounds of the French Ligue 1 Metz is at the bottom of the table with just 4 points, a 5:29 goal difference, and a 1-1-13 record, eleven points behind Strasbourg in the 17th spot, and this is the second-worst record in the history of the Ligue 1 after 15 matches played. At home, The Maroons were beaten eight times in eight games with a horrible 3:20 goal difference, while on the road they have recorded one victory, one draw, and five losses with a 2:9 goal difference.
The 29-year old striker Nolan Roux is the team’s leading scorer with three goals in 15 appearances, while the centre-back Fallou Diagne and the striker Emmanuel Riviere bagged one goal each thus far. The 29-year old winger Mathieu Dossevi is the best assist-maker with four dishes in 11 appearances this season. The 33-year old experienced midfielder Renaud Cohade played in all 15 Ligue 1 matches so far, adding one assist to his name.
The temporary manager Sylvain Marchal can pick up his best eleven for the next match against Nice, as there are no injury problems among the squad.
NICE vs METZ – Match Prediction
The visitors are in a terrible form, and I expect to see Nice winning three points in this one, especially after a brilliant comeback in the previous round against Toulouse.
MY PICK: Nice AH -1 (-125)
