In-play Betting Tips: Marseille to defy Bielsa stereotype

Andre-Pierre Gignac has scored five times in his last three games

Michael Lintorn offers in-play betting advice for clashes involving Inter, West Brom and Marseille...

The perception is that this is a less-than-super Sunday, but we reckon than any punters tuning into the following three fixtures won't be disappointed, either due to the enjoyment that they provide or the money-making windows...

Inter v Cagliari
Sunday, 14:00
Live on ESPN

Match Odds: Inter 1.4740/85, Cagliari 8.615/2, The Draw 4.77/2

What better way to set the tone for an entertaining afternoon's box-watching than with one of Europe's most iconic ambassadors of adventurous and attractive football? 67-year-old Zdenek Zeman, formerly of Lazio and Roma, is currently in charge of Cagliari, who are bottom of Serie A despite scoring in three of their first four matches.

Neither they nor opponents Inter tend to net early though. Cagliari haven't struck before the 37th minute in 20 Serie A away dates while - with the exception of their 7-0 hammering of Sassuolo - none of Inter's 13 goals in 2014/15 came earlier than the 28th minute. So if you are enticed by the both-teams-to-score option, consider waiting 25 minutes or so rather than backing now at 1.9620/21.

West Brom v Burnley
Sunday, 16:00
Live on Sky Sports 1

Match Odds: West Brom 2.0421/20, Burnley 4.47/2, The Draw 3.45n/a

Perhaps understandingly given that it is being forced to follow a day in which the Merseyside and north London derbies were crammed into the Premier League TV schedule, punters and pundits alike have low expectations of West Brom v Burnley. The stats support the scepticism, with seven of their ten combined league encounters this season delivering under 2.5 goals, a 1.758/11 prospect.

However, there is an established trend of glamour-light televised Premier League contests justifying their selection. Three this term have involved neither a divisional ever-present (Man United, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, Everton, Chelsea and Aston Villa) nor champions Man City and each ended as a score draw: Hull 1-1 Stoke, Hull 2-2 West Ham, QPR 2-2 Stoke. So if the deadlock is broken in the first half, chance a few quid on the draw.

Marseille v St Etienne
Sunday, 20:00
Live on BT Sport 2

Match Odds: Marseille 1.855/6, St Etienne 5.24/1, The Draw 3.65n/a

Opportunity isn't so much knocking as bashing Marseille's door into oblivion at the moment. With Paris St-Germain and Monaco wobbling, the latest project of the celebrated attacking coach Marcelo Bielsa has already earned them top spot in Ligue 1 just seven games and five successive victories in. The visit of fellow ten-time champions St Etienne invites them to extend their lead even further.

Though the perception of Bielsa's sides is that they start sprightly then fade owing to a high-energy approach, 12 of the 16 goals on their present winning streak arrived in the 44th minute or later. They have conceded once in the process, in the 90th minute against Evian. There is consequently a case for deploying lay-to-back tactics on over 2.5 goals, which is priced at 2.1211/10 pre-match.