Ligue 1 Betting: Differing fortunes set to continue along Riviera coastline

More misery on cards for Henry

Monaco vs Montpellier (19th v 3rd)
Sat, 19:00 GMT
Live on BT Sport 3 and Betfair Live Video

We unsuccessfully opposed Monaco last weekend but are willing to bet against Thierry Henry's side once again.

Monaco ran out 1-0 winners at Caen last Saturday but it was an unimpressive performance and there was little to pick between the sides. This weekend's fixture against third-placed Montpellier will be tougher for Monaco, who are likely to be without 10 or so players through injury, including several first-choice starters.

Montpellier have lost just one of 13 games since the opening day of the season. Their away record's an excellent W3-D2-L1 and on the one occasion they did lose away from home they were unlucky to do so. Manager Michel Der Zakarian should have a full squad to pick from.

Monaco picked a skeleton side for their 2-0 Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night but the trip to the Spanish capital was still one they could have done without. Pulling away from the relegation zone is Monaco's priority but little in their form at any point since Henry took over in October suggests they'll be strong enough to win this weekend, making Montpellier Draw No Bet the selection.

Vieira's boys getting stronger

Guingamp vs Nice (20th v 7th)
Sat, 19:00 GMT
Live on Betfair Live Video

Nice arrive in good form so it's a surprise to find the visitors are available at around evens in the Draw No Bet market. After a shaky start under new manager Patrick Vieira les Aiglonshave found their wings and will be confident this weekend.

With a settled starting line-up finally emerging Nice have won their last four games to nil, including last weekend's impressive 2-0 victory over second-placed Lille. Nice have won seven of their last 11 fixtures and their only defeats during that run have come against sides currently in the top five (PSG, Montpellier, Marseille).

Guingamp will provide a much lesser test as they've been rooted to the foot of the table all season. Without a home win (W0-D2-L4), the visitors welcome back strikers Ronny Rodelin and Nolan Roux this weekend but have yet to produce a single convincing performance this campaign.

L'OM to bounce back from European defeat

Marseille vs Reims (5th v 8th)
Sun, 16:00 GMT
Live on BT Sport ESPN and Betfair Live Video

Marseille lost 4-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League on Thursday night but that heavy defeat and listless performance ought to have little bearing on this fixture. Manager Rudi Garcia made nine changes from the side that won Amiens 3-1 last weekend, with several key players (Steve Mandanda, Adil Rami, Florian Thauvin, Dimitri Payet) not even travelling to Germany.

Ligue 1 is Marseille's priority and the hosts ought to collect all three points this weekend. They've won their last two Ligue 1 fixtures by a two-goal margin and are determined to put together an excellent run of results before Christmas in order to go into the short winter break in second place behind PSG.

Reims are difficult to beat (W5-D5-L4) but individually and collectively are weaker than Marseille all over the pitch. Reims may also rotate this weekend, as there's a midweek round of fixtures in Ligue 1 next week and they may prioritise next Tuesday's more winnable home fixture against Toulouse.

Paris to extend perfect record

Bordeaux vs PSG (12th v 1st)
Sun, 20:00 GMT
Live on BT Sport 1 and Betfair Live Video

PSG will be on a high after their potentially crucial 2-1 Champions League win over Liverpool on Wednesday night and travel to Bordeaux intent on claiming another victory. Thomas Tuchel's men have made a perfect start in Ligue 1 (14 games, 14 wins) and are determined to keep that run going as long as possible.

It's hard to see Bordeaux putting up meaningful resistance. Les Girondins are without a win in their last five fixtures (W0-D3-L2) and have improved minimally since Ricardo Gomes replaced Gustavo Poyet as manager in September. The hosts will be able to count on tremendous support but are likely to be outclassed.

All but two of PSG's 14 league wins have come by a margin of two or more goals and, significantly, the two victories by a one-goal margin came at home. Against hosts that will feel obliged to have a go and attack at times, the visitors will get opportunities to use their pace and precision on the break.

RECOMMENDED BETS

Montpellier Draw No Bet at Monaco @ 2.00

Nice Draw No Bet at Guingamp @ 1.95

Marseille -1.0&-1.5 Asian Handicap vs Reims @ 2.00

PSG -1.5 Asian Handicap at Bordeaux @ 1.90