Friday Football Tips: An 8/1 French fancy in Ligue 1

Bordeaux v Marseille
Friday 7 January, 20:00
Live on BT Sport 2 and Betfair Live Video

COVID-19 hasn't made producing this props column easy in recent weeks given the uncertainties it throws up about team selection.

That's again evident ahead of Friday's Ligue 1 game but with a pretty limited fixture list to choose from - and the big Swindon v Man City FA Cup tie throwing up similar problems - focus falls on the French game where we will attempt to build on last night's winner.

Struggling Bordeaux are the side under the cosh here. They asked for a postponement but with fewer than 11 infected players, their request was refused and the game is set to go ahead.

High-flying Marseille should be able to take advantage - victory here would move them up to second - and given the circumstances, they have the potential for score a few goals in the process.

I'm therefore eyeing up the goal markets here, in the hope of backing up some similar success on Thursday night.

Over 2.5 goals immediately makes the Bet Builder.

Bordeaux's defence was already the worst in Ligue 1 prior to their COVID outbreak so it's not rocket science to think they will struggle on that front here.

A Marseille win can also be confidently added.

Yet the hosts should not be written off in terms of scoring themselves.

Only five teams in Ligue 1 have scored more than their 30 goals so far and it is notable that their forward line is expected to remain intact.

If their youngsters can get the ball to them, the talent is there to cause the Marseille back-line problems.

The front three includes Hwang Ui-jo and Albert Elis, who have netted six and seven goals respectively this season.

Both teams to score has already landed in 16 of Bordeaux's 19 games and despite their problems, this looks worth a go.

There was real anger displayed by club officials on Thursday about this game going ahead and if experienced boss Vladimir Petkovic can instil that sense of injustice into his players, they can put up a decent-enough fight.

Those options give us close to 2/1 but for something bigger, a riskier bet on Elis to score is the suggestion.

The Honduran has been a shining light in Bordeaux's season so far.

His seven goals have come in just nine starts. He's scored in six of those games, including against leaders PSG and reigning champions Lille.

Clearly there are reasons why he's out at 3/1 to score at anytime in this game but a player who has really caught the eye of Ligue 1 viewers this season is capable of those moments of magic with his dribbling skills.

Adding Elis takes the odds to around 8/1 which, on an awkward night, looks worth a small play.

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