Ligue 1 Betting Tips Matchweek 30
PSG’s Slumping, Rennes Bidding For Sixth in Row
Rennes Winning Streak on Line
Many of Ligue 1’s stars are in action for their countries during one of the most memorable international breaks in recent history. PSG midfielder Marco Verratti and Italy were stunned by North Macedonia, missing out on a second straight World Cup. Meanwhile, Lille’s Jonathan David and Canada sealed a World Cup berth in style, qualifying for the first time since 1986.
With just nine matches remaining, Ligue 1 will regroup this weekend with a whole lot still to be determined. PSG’s poor form could, just maybe, leave the door open to a potential challenge. As they’re just 1-5 against the spread (ATS) in their last six matches in all competitions, wise Ligue 1 betting tips call for being cautious when betting on PSG. It’s also anyone’s guess who’ll round out the Champions League places with no fewer than five teams in the race.
Still PSG’s Title to Lose
There’s trouble brewing in Paris. Paris Saint-Germain have lost three of their last five Ligue 1 matches, there are rumored dressing room problems and it looks like Mauricio Pochettino’s days as boss are numbered. The trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe hasn’t lived up to the hype, and leading scorer Mbappe is most likely on his way to La Liga in the summer.
Expectations are so high for PSG that their Champions League Round of 16 exit to Real Madrid marked the exact moment their season veered into perceived failure territory. The Parisians’ season reached a new low just before the international break as Monaco demolished them 3-0, contrary to nearly all Ligue 1 betting tips. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Marseille or Rennes, who have won five straight matches, can catch PSG.
It’d still take a massive implosion for PSG to get caught as they hold a 12-point lead at the top of the Ligue 1 table with nine games remaining. No other team has come close to sniffing first place recently. Also, six of PSG’s last nine matches are against teams currently in the lower half of the table.
Paris Saint-Germain, who have now lost four of their last six in all competitions, host a flailing Lorient side that is just one point outside of the relegation zone on Sunday. The Ligue 1 betting odds list PSG as two-goal home favorites in a game they absolutely need to win.
Marseille/Arsenal Duo Emerge as Leaders
Marseille have made the Champions League just once since 2014, so finishing in the top three would be a significant accomplishment. On-loan Arsenal man William Saliba shut down Mbappe when Marseille faced PSG earlier in the season and he just had his first-ever call-up to the French national team. France coach Didier Deschamps sung his praises for being “incredibly calm” following a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast.
Saliba and his Marseille teammate Matteo Guendouzi, also on-loan from Arsenal, both appeared as substitutes in the win over Ivory Coast. Whereas PSG stars Mbappe and Presnel Kimpembe were met with jeers, young talents and Marseille minutes leaders Saliba and Guendouzi were cheered on by the crowd at the Stade Velodrome.
It’s still unclear whether 20-year-old Saliba will return to Arsenal this summer or seal a transfer to Marseille permanently, like Guendouzi appears set to do, but both will be incredibly important down the stretch. They’ll need to be at their best in a six-pointer vs. Mbappe and PSG in two weeks’ time. Until then, Jorge Sampaoli’s men have winnable matches vs. Saint-Etienne and Montpellier on the schedule.
At Saint-Etienne on Saturday, Marseille are just +110 favorites despite beating the injury-stricken relegation battlers 3-1 earlier this season. Plus, Marseille are on a four-game winning streak in all competitions for the first time this season and have scored at least two goals in each. In one of our Ligue 1 betting tips of the week, take a closer look at Marseille’s moneyline.
Red-Hot Rennes Visits Nice in Match of Week
Stade Rennais have been on an absolute roll lately and have rattled off five straight wins, the longest current streak in Ligue 1. The highest-scoring team in the league, Rennes have averaged four goals per game during its winning streak.
Marseille did Rennes a favor by beating Nice 2-1 last week, which meant SRFC overtook Nice in third place. Nice have an opportunity to regain their Champions League place back from Rennes on the French Riviera in the most anticipated Ligue 1 match of the week. Ligue 1 betting tips may suggest Rennes as a likely winner, but they’ve won just five of 14 road matches this season.
Rennes, still going under the radar, have two of the top five scorers in the league in Martin Terrier and Gaetan Laborde. Terrier could well end up being the Golden Boot winner as he trails league leader Wissam Ben Yedder by just a single goal. Five of Terrier’s 16 league goals have come on Rennes’ winning streak and he’s playing well enough that Deschamps may be tempted to give him a look sooner rather than later.
Forward Sehrou Guirassy got a rare start in Rennes’ 6-1 win over Metz right before the international break and came through with a hat trick. The Guinean international has scored five goals in his last three starts and could very well get another opportunity here.
Ligue 1 soccer predictions show Rennes as the more likely winner at +130 as Christophe Galtier’s Nice are listed at +210. Nice have won just one of their last four Ligue 1 matches and have scored just three goals in their last six. However, they’ve kept five shutouts in their last six matches in all competitions and their defensive prowess could give them a decent shot to end Rennes’ streak.
