Meanwhile, leaders PSG are at Amiens while Marseille host struggling Monaco
Action in France’s Ligue 1 is set to get back underway this week, and over the weekend Lyon have a chance to make second place their own when they take on Reims on Friday night (11 January). The following day, defending champions and current table toppers PSG are at miens, while on Sunday afternoon Marseille welcome a struggling Monaco outfit to town.
First things first
Before you go any further, head on over to the Oddsshark website, find your favourite betting site and get your own account up and running using your credit card. As a new customer and with the Ligue 1 campaign over halfway through already, there should be a wide range of promotions and special offers available to you.
Where should I be investing my money?
First up, the clash between Lyon and Reims on Friday night. Lyon sit third in the table and have taken four points from their last two league outings, while a win here could move them up to second place, a point ahead of Lille – temporarily, at least – Lyon re priced at just 1.16 to achieve a top three finish this season.
Reims, however, are in pretty good form themselves. They sis ninth, unbeaten in their last three league outings (although two of those have ended in a draw) while a win on the road here could move the side up to sixth, above giants Marseille.
However, it is Lyon who come into this match as the overwhelming favourites to take all three points. You can back the home side to win at just 1.40, while Reims are out at 7.00 to pick up the points on the road – a draw is priced in the middle at 4.75, according to Oddsshark.
And we are expecting a comfortable win for Lyon here. A 3-1 victory for the home side is priced competitively at 11.00, thereby offering more than a ten-fold return on any investment, while you could more than triple your money by backing a combo bet of a home win, coupled with both teams to score, at 3.10.
Champions are on the road
The following day, champions PSG get their campaign back underway on the road at Amiens. The home side have been struggling so far this season, and sit just one point and one place above the relegation zone – they are priced at just 2.50 to fall through the trap door into the second tier.
PSG, in stark contrast, have been taking the league by storm. They sit a massive 13 points clear at the top of the table, are the only undefeated side in the division, are scoring at a rate close to three goals per game and have leaked just 10 all season.
It is therefore of little surprise to see that PSG are the clear favourites to pick up another win this weekend. You can back the champions to take the points at just 1.16 while Amiens, despite home advantage, are out at 15.00 to do the same – a draw is priced in the middle at 7.00.
This should be a walkover for the champions. A 4-0 thrashing for PSG is priced at 9.00, meaning that a US$5 bet would lead to a US$45 pay out, while you can back the visitors to be ahead inside 10 minutes at 4.75.
Marseille look to make up lost ground against Monaco
And finally, Marseille will look to make up lost ground when they host Monaco on Sunday. The side have been struggling of late and are without a win in their last seven matches across all competitions – they sit sixth in the Ligue 1 table, but still come in short, at just 1.72, to achieve a top three finish.
Monaco, meanwhile, are in wretched form. They sit next to bottom in the table, four points from safety, having lost their two most recent league contests. Thierry Henry’s side are out at 4.33 to suffer relegation, but at this stage it is not looking good.
And it is indeed Marseille who are the favourites to win this encounter. You can back the home side to take the points at just 1.57, while Monaco are out at 5.75 to get back to winning ways. A draw is priced in the middle at 4.00.
And we are expecting Marseille to just edge this one. A narrow, 2-1 win for the home side is priced at 8.00, while you can more than triple your money by backing a combo bet of a home win, coupled with both teams to score, which comes in at 3.10.
Ligue 1 round 20 fixtures:
Friday, 11 January
(1.40) Lyon x Reims (7.00); draw (4.75)
Saturday, 12 January
(15.00) Amiens x PSG (1.16); draw (7.00)
(3.40) Caen x Lille (2.15); draw (3.25)
(3.25) Dijon x Montpellier (2.15); draw (3.40)
(3.10) Guingamp x St Etienne (2.30); draw (3.30)
(2.15) Nice x Bordeaux (3.60); draw (3.10)
(2.25) Nimes x Angers (3.20); draw (3.30)
Sunday, 13 January
(2.45) Nantes x Rennes (2.90); draw (3.20)
(2.37) Toulouse x Strasbourg (3.00); draw (3.20)
(1.57) Marseille x Monaco (5.75); draw (4.00)
