Ligue 1 Preview: Marseille out to end poor form against Monaco
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Tips and odds for this weekend’s French fixtures
Following a run of cup games in France, Ligue 1 is back.
Unsurprisingly, Paris Saint-Germain lead second-placed Lille by thirteen points, with Lyon sat two further behind.
The top two play opposition from the bottom half of the table, with Olympique Lyonnais facing a tougher test in Stade de Reims.
We preview this weekend’s highlights, starting with a couple of out of form sides clashing in the South of France…
Olympique de Marseille v AS Monaco
Last season’s runners-up AS Monaco face a tricky trip to Marseille this weekend, but it could be the perfect time for the relegation-threatened side to face Les Olympiens.
Marseille haven’t won in their last seven in all competitions, drawing only two games and losing five.
Thierry Henry’s side have won their last two matches in cup competitions rather unconvincingly, beating a ten-man fifth-tier Canet Roussillon 1-0, before beating Rennes on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Back in October, Marseille beat Les Monegasques at Stade Louis II, coming from behind to win 3-2 with goals from Kostas Mitroglou, Florian Thauvin and Valere Germain.
Marseille are favourites to end their poor run of results, sitting at 4/7 to win the game, with a Monaco victory down at 9/2.
Thauvin has already scored eleven in Ligue 1 this campaign, and is the 11/4 favourite to score first and 4/5 anytime.
OGC Nice v Girondins de Bordeaux
Nice are struggling for form and falling back in the table after three consecutive draws and a defeat in the league, as well as being eliminated from both cup competitions.
Bordeaux are unbeaten in the league since a 1-0 defeat to Nice in October, picking up an impressive score draw against leaders PSG in their run.
Goals have been hard to come by in recent games for these two sides, and a 0-0 draw comes in at 13/2, with a draw of any kind priced at 21/10.
Les Aiglons remain slight favourites for the win with odds of 23/20, but the match remains more evenly poised than most on paper. Bordeaux are valued at 13/5.
If the deadlock is broken, Mario Balotelli is the favourite for Nice at 5/1, with Francois Kamano 9/2 favourite for Les Girondins.
Best of the rest
Leaders PSG take on lowly Amiens SC this weekend, in a game they should win comfortably. A 5-0 Parisian victory in their last meeting puts them at 1/6 hot favourites. However, after a shock defeat to Guingamp in the cup, Amiens will be looking to spring another surprise. The hosts are 20/1 outsiders.
Second-placed Lille look to maintain the gap to the leaders, and they’re 6/5 to beat 16th placed Caen, with the leagues joint-second top scorer Nicolas Pepe favourite to open the scoring at 3/1.
Lyon sits in third and face a tricky tie against Stade de Reims. They’re 4/9 favourites to get the win and keep pace with the top two, with Bertrand Traore, Memphis Depay and Moussa Dembele all priced at 7/2 favourites to grab the opening goal.
Click here for the latest Ligue 1 odds.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
