Ligue 1 Betting: Laurent Blanc to outwit Claude Puel in title favourites clash

French Football / James Eastham / 10 December 2009 / Leave a Comment

Yoann Gourcuff (right) has been rested before Bordeaux's trip to Lyon on Sunday night

Recommended bets: Nancy v Rennes draw @ 3.15; Lyon v Bordeaux draw @ 3.35.

Lyon's prices to win games are based on their former glories rather than the current quality of their side. Opposing them is the only way to go, especially when Ligue 1 champions Bordeaux come to town, writes James Eastham. Best bet: Lyon v Bordeaux draw @ [3.35].

Nancy v Rennes (Saturday, 6pm UK time)

Sometimes I watch Rennes and think they're good enough to win the French League. They will be, in a couple of years, should their team stay together.

The side boasts two of France's most promising midfielders, Yann Mvila and Sylvain Marveaux, fearless wingers in Jires Kembo-Ekoko (aged 20) and Moussa Sow (aged 23) and the most prolific striker in the division in Asamoah Gyan. The Ghana international has averaged a goal every 143 minutes this season.

Rennes' 1-0 win over Lorient last weekend tells only half the story. Rennes had 11 shots on target to the visitors' nil. If Rennes could take their chances, their title odds would shorten.

Nancy had their own morale-boosting win last weekend when they beat Auxerre 3-1. However, that victory owed more to the absence of Benoit Pedretti and Ireneusz Jelen than Nancy's own qualities. The former France midfielder and Poland striker are Auxerre's equivalent of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

I expect Rennes to pick up a point at least. Nancy have won only four of their last 13 games and collected just seven points from a possible 21 against sides currently above them in the table.

Rennes' propensity to miss chances is a worry, though. Four of their seven away games have ended all-square. That's why I'm backing the draw at [3.15] rather than Rennes at [3.1]..

Lyon v Bordeaux (Sunday, 8pm)

Lyon face their stiffest test of the season when they host champions and Ligue 1 leaders Bordeaux at Stade de Gerland on Sunday night.

The home side been too short to win the title all season. Three weeks ago they drew 1-1 at bottom club Grenoble, and showed further signs of fragility at Lille last Sunday when a 3-1 half-time lead turned into 4-3 defeat. Yet still there was barely a dent in their title odds ([3.3] at the moment).

Before the Lille game, the press reported that Lyon's players had asked their coach, the mediocre Claude Puel, to clarify his tactical demands and lighten the physical workload in training. If they're frustrated, I'm not surprised. Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas is usually quick to criticise his coaches, but remains surprisingly smitten with Puel despite few signs of progress since the short-fused former Monaco manager took over 18 months ago.

Bordeaux are the better side, in better form and have fresher players. Yoann Gourcuff, Marouane Chamakh and eight other first-teamers were spared the trip to Israel for Bordeaux's final Champions League group game against Maccabi Haifa. Instead, they stayed back in Gironde to prepare as thoroughly as possible for this match under the watchful eye of coach Laurent Blanc's indispensable assistant, Jean-Louis Gasset.

Only the excellent form of Lyon pair Hugo Lloris and Lisandro Lopez prevents me backing Bordeaux at [3.45]. Those two are playing well enough to earn the hosts a draw, a result that Bordeaux would settle for to maintain their five-point lead over Lyon. The stalemate's my pick at [3.35].

James Eastham's Ligue 1 betting record:
* 2008-09: 83pts staked / 19.86pts profit (23.9% ROI)
* 2009-10: 33pts staked / 2.04pts profit (6.2% ROI)
* Best bets overall: 31pts staked / 4.95pts profit (16.0% ROI)

* All profit after 5% commission