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Ligue 1 Betting: Nice to bounce back from Champions League humiliation

Nantes v Lyon (15th v 4th)
Sat, 16:15 BST
Lyon's forward line is the reason they're a good bet to win at Nantes this weekend. Their formidable front quartet - Bertrand Traore, Nabil Fekir, Memphis Depay and Mariano Diaz - have excited and enthralled in equal measure and are strong enough to drive Lyon to victory on Saturday afternoon.
Between them the four players have contributed eight goals and three assists across Lyon's opening three fixtures. If one doesn't get you, another one will - and that's the problem Nantes have to contend with.
Nantes got their first points on the board thanks to a win at Troyes (1-0) last weekend. It was an impressive victory in the circumstances - several Nantes players were missing, and Claudio Ranieri's side played with 10 men for an hour after defender Chidozie Awaziem was sent off - but Lyon will provide a considerably stronger test.
Nantes will put up the best resistance they can, but if Lyon's front four perform close to their best, the visitors should collect all 3pts.
Recommended Bet
Lyon @ 2.12

Amiens v Nice (20th v 11th)
Sat, 19:00 BST
Nice have won just one of their first seven matches of the season in all competitions but this is a good opportunity for them to bounce back. Amiens are struggling to adapt to Ligue 1 football following promotion and look the weakest side in the top flight.
Amiens Christophe Pelissier is doing the best he can but the fact is that his squad is packed with Ligue 2-standard players. It's little surprise they've lost three out of three games so far, failing to score and conceding seven times. There was no shame in losing 2-0 at PSG on the opening day but subsequent defeats at home to Angers (2-0) and at St Etienne (3-0) laid bare their shortcomings.
Nice were outplayed home and away by Napoli in the Champions League qualifying round and their 4-0 aggregate defeat will have wounded their pride. But in Ligue 1 they're strong enough to see off the likes of Amiens, and their odds-against price is well worth taking.
Recommended Bet
Nice @ 2.38

Toulouse v Rennes (16th v 17th)
Sat, 19:00 BST
These two sides have yet to impress this season, as their league positions show. But their standings also demonstrate there's little to pick between the two, meaning it's a surprise Toulouse are clear 2.36 favourites to win this weekend.
Last weekend Toulouse lost 6-2 at a Neymar-inspired PSG. The week before they claimed a narrow and barely-deserved 1-0 home win over Montpellier. Toulouse might win this weekend, but there was nothing in those last two performances to suggest they're markedly stronger than the visitors.
Rennes have picked up just two points from their opening three games, but their sole defeat came against an excellent Lyon (0-1). They drew at Troyes (1-1) on the opening day and at home to Dijon (2-2) last weekend - and while those performances were a little disappointing after considerable investment over the summer, there's more to come from Christian Gourcuff's side.
Take advantage of the big price on a Rennes victory by backing the visitors on the Asian handicap. With our selection you'll make a profit if Rennes win or draw.
For a full guide to Asian Handicap betting, click here.
Recommended Bet
Rennes +0&+0.5 Asian handicap @ 1.95


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