French betting advisor Andy Hooper (@EuroEliteFR) consistently searches for value by opposing the big sides, and this week’s instalment is no different.
The first game of this Saturday’s Ligue 1 action sees reigning French champions, and newly crowned Coupe de la Ligue winners, Paris Saint Germain travel to the South of France to take on OGC Nice. As is so often the case when teams like PSG play, the bookmakers make the team at the top of the table and who appear to be in pretty good form as odds on favorites. Although they are right to do this on most occasions, I believe this weekend is different.
Wednesday night saw an already weary PSG side get taught a lesson by Spanish powerhouses Barcelona and not only did they come out of the game with their pride damaged, but it also saw even more players added to their already long list of injured/suspended players. Arguably the parisien’s two best central defenders will be sidelined through recent injuries (David Luiz along with captain Thiago Silva) and with Zlatan Ibrahimovic starting the first of his four game suspension, the core of the capital side has disappeared.
The hosts this Saturday are Nice, and after an indifferent start to their Ligue 1 campaign they currently sit mid table and on a run of three games unbeaten. The first of this 3 game streak was a stunning 2-1 victory (with just 10 men!) away at high flying Olympique Lyonnais, and the most recent was a strong 1-0 win against Reims. Nice’s midfield maestro on loan from Porto, Carlos Eduardo (see video below), has been in mesmerizing form of late, and with the thought facing a make shift PSG back four the goal scoring Brazilian midfielder will be licking his lips!
PSG have found grinding out results away from home tricky this year, and with just 1 win on their last 3 games on the road (including a 3-2 loss at Bordeaux) this weekend is unlikely to be any different. Without top goalscorer Ibrahimovic and as a result of losing talismanic defender Thiago Silva to injury, I foresee the parisien’s really struggling this weekend against a Nice outfit that will certainly be looking to put one over on the French champions.
- Nice or Draw (v PSG) – 3.5 PT STAKE @ 2.4 (Unibet, Coral)
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