Lyon and PSG to serve up a thriller

• Posted by: csabax
• 10 May 2013
• Football
• Comment!

The big Sunday night showdown should be a fantastic spectacle on a Ligue 1 weekend where the title could be decided, writes James Eastham.

 

Bordeaux v Nancy (9th v 17th) Sat, 19:00 BST

I was surprised to find Nancy as big as 3.5 to win at Stade Chaban-Delmas on Saturday night.

Hosts Bordeaux have nothing to play for. Tucked away in mid-table, their chances of qualifying for Europe through the league started to fade in late winter, so their  focus is now firmly on the French Cup.

 

Bordeaux also have a poor home record: W6-D8-L3 puts Bordeaux 13th in the home league table and will give Nancy hope of getting a result.

 

Motivationally it's a no-contest. Nancy are embroiled in the relegation battle so need every point they can get to avoid dropping into Ligue 2. They also go into the  game in formidable form: they are W5-D2-L0 against sides outside the top three in an excellent run since the start of March.

 

Taking all these factors into account I'm willing to support Nancy. The best options are to lay Bordeaux, back the draw or back Nancy with a small start on the Asian  Handicap - my best bet of the weekend.

 

Recommended Bet: Nancy +0 Asian Handicap at Bordeaux @ 2.4

 

Evian v Nice (18th v 4th) Sun, 16:00 BST

This is one of the few games this weekend with something at stake for both sides, and the likely consequence is goals.

 

Nice go into the game with a realistic chance of claiming a Champions League spot, something nobody would have predicted before the season began. They play some of the  most fluent attacking football in the division and will be confident of scoring at least once, not only because of their style of play but also because of the stats:  Nice have scored in 12 of 17 away games and six out of eight against bottom-half sides.

 

Evian go into the weekend in the relegation zone so have no choice but to play to win. Their approach should lead to an open game of chances at both ends. Both teams  have scored in 10 of Evian's 17 home games, and that's the selection on a day with so much at stake for both sides.

 

Recommended Bet: Evian v Nice Both Teams to Score @ 1.84

 

Lyon v PSG (3rd v 1st) Sun, 20:00 BST

By the time this game kicks-off PSG may have been already crowned champions. If Marseille lose at home to Toulouse on Saturday afternoon then PSG will be at least  seven points clear with two games to play.

 

If Marseille draw then PSG are virtually assured of the title because of their vastly superior goal difference - and if Marseille win then PSG can seal their first  league triumph in 19 years by beating Lyon in the big Sunday night game. My feeling is we'll get an open and exciting game whether PSG need the points or not, not only  because this is a clash between the division's two highest-scoring sides, but also because there's so much at stake for Lyon.

 

About six weeks ago Remi Garde's side looked nailed-on for second place but an attack of the jitters has seen them fall four points behind Marseille (now in second  place), which means Lyon are battling it out with Nice, St Etienne and Lille for the third and final Champions League spot. Lyon will be praying PSG already have the  title wrapped up by the time the teams take the field in order to make their task easier - yet regardless of the situation Lyon's best hope of winning will be to adopt  an attacking approach because they are more convincing offensively than defensively. Second-choice goalkeeper Anthony Lopes will start for a third consecutive match  because no. 1 Remy Vercoutre is injured, while Lyon's centre-halves continue to perform uncertainly regardless of who Garde picks.

 

This is the smartest Over 2.5 Goals selection of the weekend.

 

Recommended Bet: Lyon v PSG Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.05

 

(Source: Betfair)

 

Bet HERE

 

Viewed 1141 times