Underrated St Etienne the smart selection

Lyon v St Etienne (4th v 5th)
Fri, 20:00 GMT
Live on BT Sport 3 and Betfair Live Video
Lyon are 1.65 favourites to win this fiercely-contested derby on Friday night yet the difference in quality between the sides does not appear to be as big as the market suggests.
Lyon and St Etienne are separated by just one place and one point in the Ligue 1 table. We've already seen Lyon come unstuck at home this season: their record at the Groupama Stadium is W4-D2-L1, with points dropped against Bordeaux (1-1), Nantes (1-1) and Nice (0-1).
St Etienne arrive undefeated in four games (W2-D2-L0). Team news is also in the visitors' favour: St Etienne boss Jean-Louis Gasset has a full squad to pick from, while his Lyon counterpart Bruno Genesio will have to make do without experienced defender Jeremy Morel, more than just a useful squad member these days following Lyon's recent switch to a back three.
The short odds on a Lyon victory throw up good opportunities to back St Etienne in some of the other markets on offer. St Etienne Draw No Bet is 4.40, while St Etienne +1.0 Asian Handicap is 1.95. With the second of these selections, you'll make a profit if St Etienne avoid defeat and get your stakes back if they lose by a single goal (for a full guide to Asian Handicap betting, click here).

Henry's misery set to continue

Caen vs Monaco (17th v 19th)
Sat, 19:00 GMT
Live on BT Sport Extra 2 and Betfair Live Video
Monaco's status as 2.40 favourites is clear case of a side being rated on reputation alone. Nothing in Monaco's performances or results this season indicates that they deserve to be such short odds ahead of this trip to Normandy.
Monaco are two places and five points below Caen in the Ligue 1 standings. The visitors have won just one of their opening 13 games of the season. Rookie manager Thierry Henry is still looking for his first win after six games in charge in all competitions.
Monaco will also be without a number of important players this weekend. Latest reports suggest that defenders Djibril SidibeAlmamy Toure and Kamil Glik, midfielder Jean-Eudes Aholou, playmaker Rony Lopes and attackers Stevan Jovetic and Radamel Falcao will all sit out the game. In essence, Monaco are shorn of 50% of their ideal outfield starters.
Caen are a moderate but tenacious side. Their W2-D6-L5 form and W1-D4-L1 home record show they're difficult to beat. They'll be fully aware of Monaco's considerable problems on and off the field and fired-up to claim a scalp in front of a large crowd at Stade Michel d'Ornano.
Caen Draw No Bet is 2.30. Caen +0&+0.5 Asian Handicap is 2.00. With the second selection, you'll make a profit if Caen win or the game ends in a draw.

Visitors too strong for limited hosts

Amiens vs Marseille (16th v 6th)
Sun, 20:00 GMT
Live on BT Sport 1 and Betfair Live Video
This game is a great opportunity for Marseille to improve their standing, making the visitors the smart selection on Sunday night. L'OM have blown hot and cold this season but have the talent and squad depth to pick up all three points from this trip to Picardie.
Brazilian Luiz Gustavo, who's generally played as a centre-back this season, is suspended but in all other positions the visitors ought to be at full strength. Adil Rami and Florian Thauvinstarred for France in their 1-0 friendly win over Uruguay at Stade de France on Tuesday night and produced the sort of hungry performances that Marseille will need this weekend.
Marseille signed off before the international break with a solid performance and 2-0 win over Dijon. Manager Rudi Garcia will demand the same levels of focus and attention in order for the ambitious outfit to make it six points from a possible six and maintain pressure on the four sides immediately above them, all of whom are within striking distance.
Individually and collectively Amiens are by far the more limited side. Their home record's a respectable W3-D0-L3 although it's noticeable that the three sides they've beaten - Reims, Rennes and Dijon - are all some distance below Marseille in the standings.
RECOMMENDED BETS
St Etienne +1.0 Asian Handicap at Lyon @ 1.95
Caen +0&+0.5 Asian Handicap v Monaco @ 2.00
Marseille to win at Amiens @ 1.85

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