The Ligue 1 round 8 is scheduled for the upcoming weekend, prior to the international break and national team competitions. As always, for this round, we have prepared a two-match preview in hope to find some betting action and make some money.
Firstly, Guingamp, who recently fell to a strong Bordeaux side, will host Toulouse, who are now three games without a win after losing to Marseille in their last fixture. In the other matchup Dijon, who did their part in entertaining fans in a 3-3 draw with Lyon, will take on Strasbourg, a team struggling for form with another loss against Nantes.
Guingamp vs. Toulouse
3-Way:1: Guingamp +110; X: +250 Draw; 2: Toulouse +345
Spread -0.5: Guingamp -103; Toulouse -102
Total +2.5: Over +125; Under -130
Guingamp
Guingamp was victim to a 3:1 defeat against an in-form Bordeaux side last weekend as they struggled to create clear-cut chances throughout the match. The game may have gone differently had forward Jimmy Briand converted a penalty given after just two minutes, but it was too early in the day for him as his shot was easily saved. It was then Bordeaux’s turn to miss a penalty, awarded after right-back Christophe Kerbrat lazily stuck a leg out and fouled an attacker, but the rebound was drilled into the goal.
Guingamp came out in the second half with greater intent as early-on right-midfielder Yannis Salibur’s shot was deflected past the keeper and into the back of the net. Unfortunately for Guingamp, they couldn’t forge any more chances nor could they keep the ball away from their own goal as Bordeaux scored in the 75th minute and sealed the win with a 92nd-minute goal.
The two-times French Cup champions should not feel too disheartened by the result, as they simply came up against a good side who are in a rich vein of form. That being said, after a good win in their previous Ligue 1 match against Lille, they will have been disappointed that they couldn’t create some kind of momentum. In fact, in each of Guingamp’s three wins, they have followed the result with a loss, which could validate questions of their character. Saying that each of their wins has been after losses, so you could argue that they have hearts of steel. Either way, a couple of wins on the trot wouldn’t do this side any harm.
Manager Antoine Kombouaré will have a full squad selection for Saturday’s game.
Toulouse
Toulouse is now three games without a win and three games without a goal after a lackluster 2:0 loss to Marseille away from home. The away side struggled to forge any kind of chance, with Marseille dominating throughout and being rewarded with a goal in the 32nd minute with a simple finish following some pinball in the Toulouse box. The first half passed straight by Toulouse, and so did most of the second half with their opponents adding a second from a corner. One huge chance came for midfielder Yannick Cahuzac as he was faced to goal just a few yards away, but a great block from the keeper denied his team from clawing their way back into the game.
The recent loss has meant that Toulouse is now seven away games without a win, which is something manager Pascal Dupraz will have to investigate and perhaps change the way his teams are set out to change the run of poor results. Furthermore, they are now three games without a single goal, which is strange when you consider that Toulouse managed seven in their first four Ligue 1 games which is a pretty solid record; but they have simply been wasteful in front of goal in recent times.
Manager Pascal Dupraz will be without any injury or suspension woes.
Guingamp vs. Toulouse – MATCH PREDICTION
Both teams have had quite unpredictable topsy-turvy seasons so far, although generally, both sides have had decent home forms with poor away forms. And for that reason, with Guingamp being the home side, I’d have to say that the safest bet would be a Guingamp win.
MY PICK: Guingamp to win (+110)
Dijon vs. Strasbourg
3-Way: 1: Dijon +120; X: +258 Draw; 2: Strasbourg +300
Spread -0.5: Dijon +112; Strasbourg -123
Total +2.5: Over +110; Under -112
Dijon
A highly entertaining game in Lyon saw Dijon gain a point in a positive 3:3 goal-fest draw. Lyon struck first and it may have seemed that Dijon was in for a long ninety minutes, but just a few minutes later winger Chang-Hoon Kwon was fouled in the boxed and teammate Naim Sliti converted the resulting penalty. Half-time came with both sides on level terms, but it was Dijon who was quickest to the second as Fouad Chafik found midfielder Xeka in the box who headed home to take the lead for the first time in the match. Unfortunately, their lead lasted just eight minutes as Lyon scored a volley, and then a penalty three minutes later to take the winning position once again. But Lyon let their lead slip quickly yet again as Cedric Yamberé scored from a free header after a cross from a free-kick.
After losing their last two matches, Dijon will be relieved to have got a confidence-boosting result for their upcoming crunch game with Strasbourg. That being said, Dijon has huge defensive worries having already conceded sixteen goals in their first seven games, the worst record in the Ligue 1.
Manager Olivier Dall’Oglio will have a full squad roster for Saturday’s game.
Strasbourg
A third Ligue 1 loss in a row against Nantes with a 2:1 score-line saw Strasbourg slip further down towards a relegation scrap despite a dominating performance. It was the Ligue 2 winners Strasbourg who took the lead after ten minutes when Jonas Martin crossed to Nuno Da Costa who attacked the ball with conviction heading past the keeper, the attackers’ first goal of the season. Unfortunately, Strasbourg could hold on for just three minutes until Nantes responded with an equalizer and a winner eleven minutes later.
With sixty-six minutes left on the clock, Strasbourg had time and chances to find an equalizer themselves, or possibly even a winner. Frustratingly, Nantes shut up shop and limited Strasbourg to few clear-cut chances. A last-gasp chance saw Dimitri Lienard’s volley incredibly stopped on the line by a Nantes defender, signifying that it wasn’t going to be their day.
Strasbourg’s game can be summarized in one word; frustrating. They clearly dominated with 70% of possession and fifteen shots to Nantes’ seven, but couldn’t get the ball in the net. That’s now four league losses in a row for this side, and although it might be a bit quick to say, a loss to Dijon might already doom them to relegation from the Ligue 1 looking at their next fixtures against Marseille, Nice, and Saint Etienne.
Manager Thierry Laurey will have a full squad selection for his side’s upcoming match.
Dijon vs. Strasbourg – MATCH PREDICTION
These Ligue 1 sides could both easily go down with worry early signs. Dijon’s defense is awful but they seem capable of scoring a few goals, while Strasbourg has seemed incapable of either, although they’ve lacked a bit of luck. This match is huge for both sides and I could see it surprising a few people with both sides going for the win.
MY PICK: Over 2.5 goals (+110)
