Football betting analyst Mark O’Haire returns after a well-earned International break to share his favourite fancies with plays from Ligue 1 and La Liga this weekend.
BOTH SIDES TO OBLIGE IN MONACO
With only 10 rounds of action to play, the race for a top-three finish (and subsequent Champions League qualification) is beginning to heat up in Ligue 1.
Monaco are three points shy of the threshold and will be targeting top honours from their Sunday showdown against relegation-threatened Strasbourg.
But rather than back Les Monégasques at unattractive short prices, a play on Both Teams To Score holds much more appeal at generous 1.91 quotes.
After all, Ligue 1 has been fun to follow in 2022/23 with 2.81 goals per-game on average and a hefty 57% of fixtures featuring winning BTTS wagers, a strike-rate that would imply blanket odds around 1.75.
Monaco have been far from reliable at their principality base. Philippe Clement’s charges rank mid-table when viewing the home-only table, with defence proving a big part in their downfall.
Only Clermont and rock-bottom Angers have conceded more home goals than the men from Monte Carlo, with the hosts managing just two clean sheets at the Stade Louis II.
Les Rouge et Blanc have silenced only two of their past 14 opposition outfits across all venues since early November on league duty, suggesting Strasbourg could have some joy.
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The visitors have notched in 22 of their 28 fixtures thus far, getting on the scoresheet in 10 of their 13 away days, including intimidating trips to both PSG and Marseille.
The Alsace outfit are beginning to recover from a nightmare campaign and have moved three points clear of the drop-zone following just two defeats in seven.
Hitman Habib Diallo is enjoying a remarkable resurgence – bagging 10 goals in his past 14 outings – with the experienced Kevin Gameiro leading an eye-catching attack for the visitors.
Yet Strasbourg have also been blighted by a below-par rearguard.
Le Racing have shutout only three Ligue 1 sides this season – only Troyes have a worse clean sheet return – and that’s an obvious weakness that looks likely to be exposed when facing a Monaco side that have scored in all bar two of their 28 Ligue 1 tussles this term.
With the duo each displaying plenty of final-third intent and simultaneously struggling to keep the back door shut, the opportunity to support Both Teams To Score at an attractive price stands out.
After all, our proposed selection has already banked in 71% of Monaco’s home matches, as well as 77% of Strasbourg’s games as guests,
GOALS GALORE IN GIRONA
If Ligue 1 has been one of Europe’s more entertaining major leagues, La Liga appears at the opposite end of the scale.
Spain’s top-flight is averaging only 2.43 goals – 56% of fixtures have produced Under 2.5 Goals, with only 48% delivering Both Teams To Score profit.
However, two sides regularly serving up enjoyable encounters lock horns on Saturday.
Girona have consolidated in mid-table following promotion back to the top-tier last term.
Michel’s men have earned plenty of positive plaudits for their approach, as only the Big Three – Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid – have scored more league goals than the Blanquivermells after the opening 26 rounds of action.
The Catalan club’s adventurous style has seen the hosts strike twice or more in seven of their 13 Estadi Montilivi match-ups, and a contest with relegation-threatened Espanyol should provide Girona with opportunities to enhance their impressive return in the final-third.
The visitors’ only away clean sheet since early September came at no-hopers Elche.
However, Girona certainly cannot be trusted to keep their own sheets clean.
Games involving the Blanquivermells top La Liga’s goals-per-game table (averaging 3.12 goals), with the Catalans managing a league-low solitary shutout.
With Espanyol notching in 23 of 26 La Liga dates – only Barcelona boast a better return – BTTS is the obvious angle of attack.
Both Girona and Espanyol have seen Both Teams To Score click in 19/26 (73%) fixtures, and that same success rate stands firm when digging deeper into respective home/away returns, giving us a great value option for supporting at repeat at 1.91 on Saturday afternoon.
Recommended Bets
- Both Teams To Score in Monaco vs Strasbourg – 1 unit @ 1.91
- Both Teams To Score in Girona vs Espanyol – 1 unit @ 1.93
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