The French Ligue 1 continues this weekend with the Round 14 matches, and in this preview, we would like to take a closer look at two games set for Sunday, November 26th, 2017, when Nice hosts Lyon at Allianz Riviera, while Marseille welcomes Guingamp at Orange Velodrome.
Down below you’ll find some interesting tips along with our betting predictions, so don’t waste your time and join the action here on GetMoreSports.
NICE vs. LYON
3-Way: 1: Nice +239; X: +280 Draw; 2: Lyon +131 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread +0.5: Nice -132; Lyon +127
Total +3: Over +112; Under -114
NICE
The Eaglets needed some time to get back on the right track after six defeats in a row in all competitions, and they recorded two victories and one draw in the previous three matches, including a convincing 3:1 victory over Zulte Waregem in the UEFA Europa League last Thursday. In the previous round of the French Ligue 1 they drew with Caen on the road, 1:1, although they had a lead until dying moments of the game when they allowed Ronny Rodelin to score an equalizing goal.
After the first 13 rounds of the French Ligue 1, Nice is sitting at the 17th spot with their heads just above the water. They have earned 14 points with a 15:20 goal difference and a 4-2-7 record. At home, they’ve recorded three wins, one draw and three losses with a 13:10 goal difference, while they were awful on the road with one win, one draw, and four losses with a 2:10 goal difference. They bagged at least a goal in every game on the home soil this season, but they are the most inefficient team in the league away from home, along with the bottom side Metz.
The 27-year old striker Mario Balotelli is leading his team with six goals in eight Ligue 1 appearances this season, while his colleague Alassane Plea bagged three goals in 13 Ligue 1 matches. Alassane Plea and the winger Pierre Lees Melou are the team’s best assist-makers with three dishes apiece. The fans surely expect more from Wesley Sneijder, as the experienced midfielder is still without goals and assists on his account this season.
The manager Lucien Favre will miss Mario Balotelli for the next match because of the red card suspension, while the midfielder Wylan Cyprien (cruciate ligament rupture) and the striker Mickael Le Bihan (broken tibia) are both sidelined due to injuries.
LYON
The Kids are in a magnificent form since the start of the season, and they recorded just one defeat in all competitions so far (2:0 loss against Paris SG in the sixth round when Lyon scored two own goals). In the previous round, they drew with Montpellier, 0:0, in front of the home fans, while they easily hammered Apollon, 4:0, in the UEFA Europa League Round 5 last Thursday. The Kids kept their net intact for the sixth game in a row in all competitions, recording five wins and one draw in the process.
The seven-time French champions are laying at the third spot of the French Ligue 1 table with 26 points, a 32:15 goal difference, and a 7-5-1 record. They are still unbeaten at the home stadium with a 4-3-0 record and a 17:9 goal difference, while on the road they’ve earned 11 points with a 3-2-1 record and a 15:6 goal difference, and in each of their previous three away matches The Kids have scored three goals or more.
The 24-year old attacking midfielder Nabil Fekir is playing in a tremendous form this season, scoring 11 goals in 11 appearances, also adding three dishes to his name. The 24-year old striker Mariano Diaz, who joined the club from Real Madrid this summer, bagged nine goals in 13 Ligue 1 matches, while the winger Memphis Depay scored six goals in 12 appearances, adding three assists to his name. Fekir and Depay are the team’s best assist-makers along with the right-back Kenny Tete, who arrived from Ajax in the previous transfer window.
The manager Bruno Genesio will have a tough job to maintain the team’s form in the following weeks, but he doesn’t have any injury problems among the squad, so he can field the best eleven against Nice on Sunday.
NICE vs. LYON – Match Prediction
This one should be a joy to watch, and I expect to see some goals on both sides. Lyon was magnificent on the road in the last couple of weeks, but I believe Nice will get a goal in front of the home fans, although they will miss Mario Balotelli. Still. my safe bet here is to go with the under.
MY PICK: Under 3 goals (-114)
MARSEILLE vs. GUINGAMP
3-Way: 1: Marseille -161; X: +355 Draw; 2: Guingamp +630 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -1: Marseille -111; Guingamp +112
Total +3: Over +112; Under -115
MARSEILLE
The Olympians played a 1:1 draw with Bordeaux on the road in the previous round of the French Ligue 1 with a dramatic late equalizer from Morgan Sanson. Meanwhile, they drew with Konyaspor, 1:1, in the UEFA Europa League Round 5, scoring once again in the injury time of the second half, and they will need one point against Salzburg in the next match to secure the next round.
Marseille is undefeated in the French Ligue 1 for eight games in a row, and after the first 13 rounds they are sitting at the fourth spot of the table with 25 points, a 27:18 goal difference and a 7-4-2 record, ten points behind the leader Paris SG. At home, The Olympians have recorded three wins, two draws and one defeat with a 14:6 goal difference, while they were brilliant on the road with a 4-2-1 record and a 13:12 goal difference. Marseille managed to find the net in every single game since the start of the Ligue 1 season.
Three players are topping the team’s scoring chart with five goals apiece – the striker Clinton N’Jie, the winger Florian Thauvin, and a midfielder Morgan Sanson. The Argentinian winger Lucas Ocampos scored four goals in nine appearances so far, while the defensive midfielder Luiz Gustavo added three goals to his name. Florian Thauvin is the best assist-maker with five dishes in 13 appearances this season. The Greek international Konstantinos Mitroglou is slowly building up the form, and he bagged two goals in five matches, while his colleague Valere Germain is still goalless in 12 apps this season.
The manager Rudi Garcia can pick up his best eleven for the next game against Guingamp, as all his players are healthy and ready to go.
GUINGAMP
Guingamp had a nice start of the season, but in the last few weeks, they were struggling to collect some points. Since their last Ligue 1 victory against Rennes in the ninth round, Guingamp recorded two draws and two losses, including a heavy 6:0 defeat against Monaco on the road in the 12th round of the French Ligue 1. Meanwhile, they’ve even lost to Montpellier at home, 2:0, in the French Coupe de la Ligue round of 32.
After the first 13 rounds of the French Ligue 1 Guingamp is in the 15th place with 15 points, a 14:22 goal difference, and a 4-3-6 record. They’ve played pretty well in front of the home fans where they’ve recorded three wins, three draws, and one defeat with an 8:6 goal difference. On the other side, Guingamp is the worst team in the league when playing on the road with one victory and five losses, scoring six goals and conceding 16 in a return.
The 31-year old defensive midfielder Mustapha Diallo is a team’s leading scorer with four goals in 11 appearances, while the experienced striker Jimmy Briand bagged three goals in 13 matches this season. The left-back Franck Tabanou, who arrived from Swansea this summer, is the best assist-maker with two dishes in five appearances, while nine different players made one assist each thus far.
The manager Antoine Kombouare doesn’t have injury worries, and he can pick up his best eleven for the next game.
MARSEILLE vs. GUINGAMP – Match Prediction
The home team is a favorite in this clash, and I expect to see them winning all three points here. Guingamp is playing poorly recently, and they are the worst visitors in the league.
MY PICK: Marseille AH -1 (-111)
