Ligue 1 Betting: Nice's tricky start set to continue

Nice are one to oppose

Nice v Dijon
Saturday, 19:00 BST
Live on Betfair Live Video

Nice are odds-on to win this weekend yet it's difficult to justify their price of 1.91 given the way these two sides performed on the opening two weekends.

Nice lost 1-0 at home to promoted Reims before earning a point without impressing versus a mediocre Caen side (1-1) last weekend. There was some good news for Nice supporters this week when Mario Balotelli confirmed he would be staying but you have to wonder whether last season's 18-goal top scorer's focus will be right at the end of a summer where he's been linked with a move to Marseille. In any case, the Italy international is absent through suspension this weekend.

Dijon have a 100% record having won at Montpellier (2-1) a fortnight ago before outplaying Nantes (2-0) to deservedly claim another three points last weekend. On the back of those victories they'll travel to the Allianz Riviera confident of picking up at least a draw, and as a naturally attack-minded side will have one eye on getting all three points.

Dijon are 4.60 to win. You can back Dijon Draw No Bet at 3.35 but we prefer a lay of Nice so that both the draw and a Dijon victory will pay out.

Strong squad makes St Etienne a play

Montpellier v St Etienne
Saturday, 19:00 BST
Live on Betfair Live Video

Montpellier's poor home record makes this game a good opportunity to oppose the hosts at Stade de la Mosson.

Since the start of last season Montpellier have won just five of 20 home matches (W5-D9-L6) and they began the new season with a 2-1 defeat in front of their own fans a fortnight ago. It's quite obvious that Michel Der Zakarian's 5-3-2 formation doesn't naturally lend itself to the possession-based football that's often required to win home games. This makes it relatively easy for opposing sides to avoid defeat when they travel to this pretty corner of the south of France.

Even if Montpellier had a better home record St Etienne would still be a handful. On paper only the Big Four (PSG, Lyon, Monaco, Marseille) have better equipes-types (as the French call Best XIs) than St Etienne, whose starting line-up includes some highly experienced performers (Stephane Ruffier, Mathieu Debuchy, Loic Perrin, Yann Mvila, Wahbi Khazri, Remy Cabella).

Given Montpellier's home woes and the talent in the visitors' ranks it's surprising St Etienne are 3.30 underdogs. The big price on les Verts hands us a good opportunity to support St Etienne on the DNB (Draw No Bet) market.

Two attack-minded sides should deliver goals

Toulouse v Nimes
Saturday, 19:00 BST
Live on Betfair Live Video

Newly promoted Nimes have caused a sensation since joining the top flight, winning their opening two games and scoring seven goals in the process.

Manager Bernard Blaquart insisted they'd continue employing the same attacking brand of football that saw them win promotion last season and he's been true to his word.

Nimes scored three times in the final 15 minutes to come from 3-1 down to win 4-3 at Angers on the opening weekend and followed up with an even more impressive 3-1 victory over Marseille last weekend in which they played some tremendous, high-tempo football and were better than l'OM all over the pitch from start to finish.

Blaquart's remarkably open tactics point towards goals this weekend, especially as Toulouse ought to be equally happy to contribute to an entertaining encounter. Having returned this summer for his second spell as manager, manager Alain Casanova focused the club's summer transfer policy on buying players that would add craft and guile in the opposition half. He's determined that Toulouse play more attractive football than they did in his first spell at the club, and if that means that a defence that lost goalkeeper Alban Lafont (Fiorentina) and centre-back Issa Diop (centre-back) over the summer concedes a few extra goals, so be it.

Given how the game's likely to unfold, the price of around evens on Over 2.5 Goals is worth taking.

RECOMMENDED BETS

Lay Nice at home to Dijon @ 1.91

St Etienne Draw No Bet at Montpellier @ 2.28

Toulouse v Nimes Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.93