Ligue 1 Matchday 30 Preview and Best Bets (Archive)
France’s top-flight league returns this weekend after the international break, bringing with it a slew of fascinating matchups marking matchday 30. In this column, we preview a few of the best Ligue 1 matches on offer along with the corresponding soccer odds from the best online sportsbooks and serve up soccer picks for your consideration.
So, without too much fuss, let’s go straight to the matches.
OGC Nice vs Stade Rennais FC
Saturday, April 02, 2022 – 11:00 AM EDT at Allianz Riviera
Nice and Rennes go head-to-head at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday, resuming their Ligue 1 campaigns following the lengthy international break for World Cup qualifying.
Very little separates these two sides in the standings – Nice rank fourth in the table with a 15-6-8 record and 50 points while Rennais ranks third with a 16-4-9 record and 52 points. Thus, the premium on the victory in this fixture is hefty.
For the hosts, it would mean a positive move in the rankings and leapfrogging Rennais into third place. For the visitors, it would mean creating separation between themselves and Nice.
As far as the best sportsbooks are concerned, Les Aiglons are at the disadvantage despite having home advantage. This is an interesting viewpoint.
Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review) is offering a home win at +219 – which is the best price currently available in the market. Bovada (visit our Bovada Review), in turn, offers a win by Rennais at the best price of +135, and BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review) serves up the draw at the most attractive price of +250.
This market outlook would appear to be driven by Rennais’ good form, which includes four wins in their last five fixtures across all competitions. In Ligue 1 action, Les Rouge et Noir are riding a five-game winning streak which was capped off by a 6-1 drumming of Metz on March 20, 2022.
Indeed, Rennais are searching for their sixth straight victory and third road victory in domestic action, but beating Nice at the Allianz Riviera is easier said than done. Let’s not forget that both these sides are coming off an extended break from competitive Ligue 1 play. It wouldn’t be surprising to see a little bit of rust under these circumstances.
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A home win by Nice can’t be overlooked, though, The hosts are 2-2-1 in their last five fixtures overall. They are 7-3-4 overall at home this season and they’re riding a four-game winning streak at the Allianz Riviera that includes a 1-0 win over league-leading PSG. Nice are also through to the Coupe de France final after beating Versailles 2-0 in the semis at the Allianz Riviera.
By any measure, this is a game that could go either way. The market could be right and the visitors may well prove to be the better bet for soccer picks. For our money, we’re backing the hosts to defend their turf and take all three points.
Soccer Pick: OGC Nice (+219) at Heritage Sports
Paris Saint-Germain FC vs. FC Lorient
Sunday, April 03, 2022 - 02:45 PM EDT at Parc des Princes
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has the league title practically sewn up. There are only nine fixtures left on the season and Les Parisiennes have a 13-point advantage over their nearest rivals, Marseille. PSG are 20-5-4 on the season with 65 points through 29 fixtures played.
It’s true that recent form has taken a bit of a nosedive with three defeats in their last five fixtures overall, highlighted by a disappointing exit in the R16 of the Champions League.
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PSG had the 1-0 advantage over Real Madrid after winning the first leg, but a 3-1 loss in the second leg sent the French darlings packing ignominiously out of the competition. This may have also brought a premature end to Mauricio Pochettino’s sojourn in the French capital, as rumors suggest he is set to leave at the end of this season.
This spate of poor results is somewhat uncharacteristic, but it is important to keep in mind that all three defeats were on the road, including their most recent 3-0 setback against Monaco. This weekend, PSG will be playing in the nation’s capital where they’re tough as nails and boast a near flawless 13-1-0 record at the Parc des Princes.
FC Lorient is battling to stay alive in Ligue 1 after collecting a paltry 28 points through 29 fixtures. Lorient is ranked 16th in the league with a 6-10-13 record and they’re tied with Clermont on 28 points. Only a point separates Lorient from St. Etienne and the drop zone.
For Lorient, a date with PSG couldn’t have come at a worse time. PSG has had some time to put behind their UCL heartache now and should be ready to refocus themselves on the task at hand. Indeed, this could get pretty ugly for Lorient as PSG are likely to capitalize on the significant gap in quality in order to get back on track in the pursuit of silverware.
PSG are runaway favorites across the online sports betting board, but with the Ligue 1 odds cracking the quadruple digits, betting on a home win in moneyline markets holds little appeal. The better bet here is to back PSG to cover the handicap.
Soccer Pick: PSG -2.5 (+124) at GTbets (visit our GTbets Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.