Under 2.5 goals were produced in three of Groningen’s last six matches and the hosts have scored in all of those games, while under 2.5 goals were also produced in three of Feyenoord’s last six matches and the visitors have only failed to score in one of those six games. Four of the pairs; last six encounters in the Eredivisie have also seen fewer than three goals scored and the last three draws between the two clubs have all ended 1-1.
AS Saint-Étienne v HSC Montpellier predictions for this Ligue 1 match. The hosts have seen a considerable upturn in form since the arrival of ex-Leicester boss Claude Puel but can the Frenchman keep that going against tough opposition like Montpellier? Read on for our free betting tips and match preview.
Paolo Sousa's Girondins have been enjoying a good run of form recently with two wins in their last two home games and a draw away to Nice in their most recent match. They currently sit 7th and could go as high as 2nd with a win here alongside favourable results elsewhere. They have lost just two of their last seven home games and they came against PSG and Saint-Étienne in two 1-0 defeats so it's evident how solid they have been at the Matmut Atlantique.
Groningen have picked up four wins at home in the league this season, only losing twice, while Feyenoord have earned two wins, two draws, and suffered two defeats on the road. The hosts head into Sunday’s match unbeaten in their last six matches in league and cup, which includes three home wins in the Eredivisie, while Feyenoord have won two, lost two, and drawn two of their across the Eredivisie and the Europa League.
Marseille have been impressing in attack recently with five goals in their last three games but there is still work to be done in a number of areas. Firstly, the defence is still their Achilles' heel as they have just two clean sheets in their last ten games, both coming against teams in the bottom five. Secondly, their away form has been pretty disastrous in recent weeks compared to their performances at home. Villas-Boas' men are unbeaten in their last six games at the Stade Velodrome (W4+D2) but are winless in their last four games on the road (L3+D1).
Toulouse should be eyeing up this awful away form as a big opportunity but les Violets have hardly shown anything in recent weeks to suggest that they are capable of winning this match. The Pink City club recently appointed Ligue 1 stalwart Antoine Kombouaré and while they won their first match under the New Caledonian, it has been rather downhill since then.
Claude Puel was brought in to do two things: sure up the defence and get back to winning matches. He has so far managed to do one of those things. Saint-Étienne have won four of the seven matches under the new coach but they have done so by virtue of their incredible attacking talents like Denis Bouanga and Wahbi Khazri as opposed to their solid defence. They have scored eight goals in their last four matches but have also conceded six times in this period so the Stade Geoffrey-Guichard is definitely the place for the neutral at the moment.
FC Girondins de Bordeaux v AS Monaco predictions for this Ligue 1 match. The middle portion of the table is currently extremely tight with these teams separated by four places but just the one point therefore a win could pay back in massive dividends here. Read on for our free betting tips and match preview.
The hosts have scored eleven goals at home and only conceded five this season which works out at an average of 1.83 goals scored per game and 0.83 goals conceded, while Feyenoord’s average goals scored per away game is 1.67 and this is why we have backed a final score of 1-1 between the pair this weekend. Each of the hosts six home games have produced over 1.5 goals and Feyenoord have seen at least two goals scored in 83% of their away games which is why we have ruled out a 0-0 draw or 1-0 win for either side this weekend. Half of Feyenoord’s away games have seen both teams score and this is probably why the visitors haven’t been as good on the road compared to previous seasons, but the visitors have only failed to score in 17% of their Eredivisie games away from home.
Montpellier currently sit 3rd if the table was adjudged by home results but they would be 17th based on away form. La Paillade have picked up just three of a possible 18 points on the road this season, losing three and drawing three. Away form has never really been a strong attribute of this Montpellier side as last season they closed out the campaign with just three wins in their final 13 away games and we feel we could see a similar demise here.
Marseille's last two games before the international break were great successes as they beat Lille and Lyon 2-1. In the latter match they had to play almost half an hour with ten men but they still managed to hold strong and get three massive points. Les Olympiens go into matchday 14 sitting 2nd but have seven teams within three points of them so another win is crucial.
We’re confident that under 2.5 goals will be produced in Sunday’s match and we have predicted a final scoreline of 1-1. Groningen have looked strong at home but certainly not perfect, while Feyenoord have been average on the road by their high standards. The hosts head into the match as the form favourites and we believe the pair will play out a 1-1 draw this weekend.
Monaco racked up yet another win just before the international break as they beat Dijon 1-0. It wasn't the most encouraging of victories from les Monegasques but was a great way to bounce back from their 1-0 defeat to Saint-Étienne the week before. They have now won six of their last eight games but there is cause for concern as five of these victories came at home. The principality side have won just one of their away games this season.
It really has been chalk and cheese when comparing their home and away form as they've scored just two goals in their last four on the road compared to eleven in their last four home games. This could cost them here, especially as they travel to a Bordeaux side with the wind in their sails.
Montpellier's form chart this season has been something to behold as they are still to have the same result back-to-back. They have won six and drawn four of their 14 matches so far but consistent failed to build up a head of steam. Their last game was a confident 3-0 win over Toulouse but this came at home where they have been very impressive, on the road it has been a considerably different story.
For this match we're targeting the 'Both Teams To Score' market but we're backing the opposite to happen in this match. Monaco have been famous for extremely exciting matches this season with the BTTS market a regular for Leonardo Jardim's side but it has been a different story away from home. Both teams have scored in just two of Monaco's last six away games and just one of Bordeaux's last five at the Matmut Atlantique.
Groningen secured all three points away at Vitesse last time out, while Feyenoord edged a five-goal thriller at home to newly-promoted RKV 3-2 and the pair both sit on twenty points from their opening fifteen matches.
Puel has struggled to really transform les Verts' home form since joining as they have already suffered a couple of awful results under the Frenchman. Their 1-1 draw with Ukrainian side Oleksandria in the Europa League was a particularly damning result as they couldn't even surpass a team sitting 4th in their respective division at the time. This was followed by a 2-2 draw at home to current 15th placed side Amiens so there is still much to prove at the Geoffrey-Guichard. However, their most recent match there was a solid 1-0 victory over Monaco so this shows they are capable of great performances in front of their own fans.
Saint-Étienne haven’t been tremendous at home but they face a Montpellier side seemingly incapable of performing well away from the Stade de la Mosson so we're edging this one in favour of les Verts. We're backing this to finish 2-1 to the hosts. Montpellier should get on the scoresheet as the home side have just one clean sheet in their last five but ultimately we see Puel's men getting the three points.
We're also edging this one in favour of les Girondins as they have been much more impressive at home than Monaco have been on the road. The visitors have conceded nine goals in their six away games this season and with Bordeaux scoring twice in four of their last six home matches we're backing this one to end 2-0 to the hosts.
FC Toulouse v Olympique Marseille predictions for this Ligue 1 match. Andre Villas-Boas’ men won their last two matches before the international break but how will they cope in the Pink City? Read on for our free betting tips and match preview.