Ligue 1 Betting: Marseille to heap more misery on ex-boss Bielsa

Bordeaux v Monaco (7th v 2nd)
Sat, 16:00 BST
Live on Betfair Live Video

Under normal circumstances Monaco would be a sound selection to win this weekend but Falcao has been ruled out and that changes everything.

The Colombia striker has been in sensational form, scoring 13 times in nine Ligue 1 appearances at a rate of a goal every 57 minutes. With him in the side, Monaco would be a Draw No Bet pick at [2.07]; without him, it's a different matter altogether.

Bordeaux were tipped to challenge for a top-four place this season, and might still do, but they need to improve in the final third. For all their neat build-up play they can be toothless in front of goal.

Star summer signing Nicolas de Preville has yet to score in six starts since his £9m move from Lille, and there are question marks over whether he can find the net against the very best opposition. Bordeaux's other available attackers - Malcom, Cafu, Francois Kamano and Alexandre Mendy - are hardly prolific, either.

The hosts are well-organised though, and difficult to beat. Against a Monaco side lacking their leading scorer, Bordeaux stand a chance, so the draw is the selection.

Recommended Bet
Draw @ 3.60

Lyon v Metz (4th v 20th)
Sun, 14:00 GMT
Live on BT Sport Extra 2 and Betfair Live Video

Lyon ran out 5-0 winners at Troyes last weekend and are a good bet to triumph in emphatic fashion this time out as well.

Their win last Sunday was all the more impressive as Nabil Fekir, their attacking kingpin, started the game on the bench, leaving Mariano Diaz and Memphis Depay to tear the Troyes defence apart. Those two were excellent, and Fekir will be keen to prove he can be just as effective if, as expected, he returns to the starting line-up.

Metz are rooted to the foot of the table and have lost nine of their opening 10 Ligue 1 fixtures of the season. Caretaker coach Jose Pinot will be in charge following the sacking of manager Philippe Hinschberger last week. There's been nothing in Metz's recent performances to suggest they can put up meaningful resistance here.

The biggest obstacle to a big Lyon win could be their own attitude: their concentration levels have dropped at times this season, and they have an infuriating tendency to ease off. If they stay focused, however, they're capable of winning by two goals at least.

For a full guide to Asian Handicap betting click here.

Recommended Bet
Lyon -2 Asian Handicap @ 1.85

Lille v Marseille (19th v 5th)
Sun, 20:00 GMT
Live on BT Sport 2 and Betfair Live Video

This is the sort of game Marseille have to win if they want to claim a top-three spot this season and the chances are they'll come away with three points on Sunday night.

The visitors were excellent value for their point against PSG (2-2) last weekend and will have drawn enormous confidence from the fact they outplayed the Ligue 1 leaders for long spells. Unbeaten in their last four games (W2-D2-L0) Marseille also have good team newswith left-back Jordan Amavi being the only automatic starter ruled out.

Lille's miserable season continued with a 1-0 defeat at fellow strugglers Rennes last weekend and a 2-2 home draw against mid-table Ligue 2 outfit Valenciennes in the League Cup on Wednesday night (Lille went through on penalties).

Without a win since the opening day of the season, Lille are in the relegation zone and manager Marcelo Bielsa - who faces his former club here - appears no closer to turning his expensively-assembled squad into an effective unit.

Marseille's W3-D1-L0 away record against sides excluding top two Monaco and PSG shows they're capable of winning on the road. At odds-against the visitors are worth supporting.

Recommended Bet
Marseille @ 2.30