Ligue 1 Betting: Faltering PSG set to wobble again

Paris coach Laurent Blanc has plenty on his mind at the moment

The French champions are under pressure and another difficult afternoon awaits, writes James Eastham...

PSG v Montpellier (2nd v 9th)
Sat, 16:00 GMT

PSG are second in the table but under pressure going into this game. They threw away a 1-0 lead at Barcelona to lose 3-1 in their final Champions League group game, lost 1-0 at struggling Guingamp last weekend and then trailed 1-0 at half-time at Ligue 2 Ajaccio 1in the League Cup on Wednesday night before grabbing two late goals to win 3-1. PSG coach Laurent Blanc is increasingly irritated at questions about his team's performances but those asking the questions are right: PSG are less fluent and coherent than last season.

Montpellier should make it a difficult afternoon. They arrive in fine scoring form having won 4-0 at Rennes in their last away match and netted three times v Lens (3-3) last weekend. For that reason both teams to score is a good bet, and I would oppose the faltering hosts on the Asian handicap as the short odds on a PSG win gives you good scope to back Montpellier.

Recommended Bets
Montpellier +1.5&+2.0 Asian handicap @ 1.9110/11
Both Teams to Score @ 2.427/5

Rennes v Reims (7th v 10th)
Sat, 19:00 GMT

Rennes have kept eight clean sheets in 18 games this season but their defence has started to crack. The Bretons lost 4-0 to Montpellier in their last home match and 2-0 at Bastia last weekend. The previously excellent centre-back partnership of Mexer and Sylvain Armand is wobbling.

Since a sudden upturn in form at the start of October Reims have scored 14 goals in 10 games, netting at least once in eight of those 10 matches. Reims are likely to concede: they have done so in six of eight away games, conceding 14 goals in total.

A fairly open game is on the cards, meaning the odds on both teams scoring look too big.

Recommended Bet
Both Teams to Score @ 2.111/10

Bordeaux v Lyon (5th v 3rd)
Sun, 20:00 GMT
Live on BT Sport 2

Bordeaux and Lyon are two of Ligue 1's most attack-minded sides. Coaches Willy Sagnol (Bordeaux) and Hubert Fournier (Lyon) consistently send out their teams to outscore the opposition rather than merely pick up a point.

The stats bear this out. Eleven of Bordeaux's 18 league matches have featured over 2.5 goals, with both teams scoring in 13 of those 18 matches. Twelve of Lyon's 18 matches have featured over 2.5 goals, with both teams scoring in 10 of those 18 matches.

Over 2.5 Goals (2.265/4) and 'Yes' in the Both Teams to Score? Market are the bets to consider.

Recommended Bet
Both Teams to Score @ 1.855/6

2014-15 P/L (1pt per bet)

Staked: 58pts
Returned: 56.85pts
P/L: -1.15pts