Football betting analyst Mark O’Haire returns to share a couple of his favourite fancies across the globe with a focus on the Championship and Ligue 1 this weekend.
QPR’s rotten recent run has seen Rangers dragged back into the Championship relegation battle. The R’s have picked up a solitary point across their last six league games and lost eight of their most recent 11 outings. Derby’s midweek success means Marti Cifuentes’ side are now only five points above the dreaded drop-zone ahead of the weekend.
Saturday’s showdown against third-bottom Cardiff therefore is a crucial clash for both sides. The Bluebirds have shown signs of life in recent months, suffering just five defeats in 17 since Boxing Day, whilst also improving their output on the road. However, two clean sheets since October and continued defensive deficiencies from set-pieces has held City back.
QPR have been at their best at Loftus Road – holding Leeds to a 2-2 draw here last time out, and unfortunate to lose 2-1 to Sheffield United prior to that. But injuries are testing the Rangers squad with the W12 outfit also unable to produce any sort of progress at the back.
Both sides should see this fixture as a winnable opportunity and I’m eager to support Both Teams To Score at the 1.95 offered on the market. Only Norwich’s home matches have seen BTTS land more often than QPR at Loftus Road with 14 of 19 games here seeing both sides oblige. The R’s have notched in 17 of those contests, recording just four shutouts.
Similarly, only West Brom have landed more BTTS winners on their travels than Cardiff this season with the Welsh club also seeing 14 of 19 away dates deliver Both Teams To Score profits. The Bluebirds have bagged in 14 of those fixtures but manage to silence only one of their away opponents across the campaign.
With both sides boasting the same 74% hit-rates in their respective home/away encounters, I wasn’t expecting to be able to back a repeat at close to even-money.
Marseille’s season is imploding. L’OM have lost four of their last five Ligue 1 matches to surrender second place and put their Champions League qualification position into disarray. Considering the money that’s been invested since Roberto De Zerbi arrived at the Stade Velodrome, missing out on Europe’s top table could have disastrous consequences.
De Zerbi’s appointment was met with understandable fan-fare. The Italian was well backed with a revamped squad and Marseille hit the ground running impressively, playing attractive, exciting and winning football. The club made more bold moves in January to cement their position behind PSG but recently things have unraveled spectacularly.
The team have lost their spark in forward areas, whilst defensively there’s little stability or cohesion through the centre of the pitch. Injuries have blighted the defence, leaving De Zerbi to switch systems and attempt to convert full-backs and midfielders into his rearguard. Last week’s 3-1 loss at Reims marked a new low for Marseille.
Matters were made worse with defenders Felipe and Leonardo Balerdi now ruled out of action, leaving L’OM with only one fit and available defender ahead of Sunday night’s showdown against Toulouse. Marseille are understandably vulnerable, though a more attractive play is to support Both Teams To Score here around the advertised 1.80.
Marseille have now conceded three goals in three of their most recent five fixtures, as well as recording just five clean sheets in 27 league outings under De Zerbi. Considering their horrific backline efforts, Toulouse should be well capable of getting on the scoresheet, as they have done in 11 of their most recent 13 league matches.
But keeping Marseille out may still prove tricky. The visitors have conceded in 13 of 14 meetings with top-eight teams this term, with L’OM scoring in all bar five of their 27 league matches across the campaign.
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