Triumphant PSG battle Bordeaux while title rivals Lyon meet Marseille
PSG may still be starry-eyed after their Champions League tussle with Chelsea, but must now return to the bread and butter of Ligue 1 against Bordeaux. Within one point of league leaders Lyon, who face dangerous title rivals Marseille, the Parisians could potentially pounce on top spot.
Bordeaux v PSG
It’s back to domestic duty for the Parisians and it could prove to be a pivotal week in their season, if Laurent Blanc’s boys can leapfrog Lyon into first place.
While the French capital club must rely on Marseille to take points off the Kids, PSG can boost their title chances by beating Bordeaux, which they are odds-on with Coral at 5/6 to do.
Undefeated in their past 15 outings across all competitions, the Parc des Princes side are a fantastic 7/5 to keep a clean sheet on their travels for the third time in their last four league away games.
It’s too tight at the top of the table for a draw at 12/5 to be beneficial, so the visitors must replicate the ruthless streak they chanelled to beat Chelsea. After heading for an early bath at Stamford Bridge, top PSG predator Zlatan Ibrahimovic is 7/2 to be sufficiently fired up and grab the opening goal.
Fellow superstar striker Edinson Cavani has much to make up for after wasting chances midweek and is 5/1 to prove PSG is big enough for both he and Ibrahimovic by closing the scoring.
Boisterous centre back David Luiz should be buoyed after helping to sink the Blues with a bullet header, and has struck three times in his past three appearances, which makes the dangerous defender a fabulous 5/1 in the anytime market.
PSG have punished the Girondins twice across all competitions this campaign and have not been beaten by Bordeaux since 2011.
The Aquitaine outift may be an outside shout at 10/3 to claim the spoils, then, but have not lost any of their last seven duels.
Uruguayan youngster Diego Rolan has been rampant this season and bagged a brilliant brace last time out. At 12/1 to net two or more again, or 9/4 anytime, the Girondins’ top scorer will be aiming to draw attention to himself. Alternatively, adaptable Tunisia talent Wahbi Khazri has seven strikes and as many assists this season, making him 8/1 to bag the opener.
Marseille v Lyon
Marcelo Bielsa’s men (11/10 for victory on home turf) must take their chance to close the gap on Lyon if they are to keep pace with the Kids and PSG.
The Stade Velodrome side began the season brightly but have been inconsistent in recent weeks, slipping to third spot. It’s vital they get back on track, and there would be no better way to do it then to beat the league leaders.
A sensational 6-1 smashing of Toulouse last time out should have put the home side in high spirits, and leading Marseille marksman Andre-Pierre Gignac is 4/1 to strike first and start proceedings after grabbing two goals in his last two games.
Gignac’s namesake and Ghana sensation Andre Ayew has also been in potent form of late and is 7/4 to hit home anytime.
The Kids, of course, boast a superior spine of talented young stars and are fantastic value at 5/2 for victory. Pick from inspirational Alexandre Lacazette, leading Ligue 1 scorer with 23 goals, at 9/2 to be on target first, or crafty Nabil Fekir at 2/1 to impress anytime.
Lyon have already beaten maverick Bielsa’s boys this season, when mercurial Yoann Gourcuff (7/2) snatched the winner, and have lost just one of their last four visits to the Velodrome.
