Mixed martial arts Ligue 1 Acca Tips: Three Value Selections For France’s Curtain-Raiser
Look no further for your Ligue 1 acca tips as the new French top-flight season gets underway this Friday night. The new 18-team division still retains its traditional Friday night fixture, and we head to the south coast for the first pick. Thereafter, we delve into Sunday’s card, looking to take on two newly promoted sides who might struggle to adapt to life in the top flight.
Before you get stuck in, here’s my bettingexpert ante-post Ligue 1 preview for 2023/24.
- Early Bird Nice vs Lille Over 2.5 goals
- Early Bird Montpellier vsLe Havre: Montpellier to win
- Early Bird Rennes vs Metz: Rennes HT/FT
Acca odds: 7.51
Odds via bet365 as at 19:00 Tuesday 8th August. Odds may now differ.
Nice vs Lille: Clash of two attack minded coaches should result in a south coast shootout
France Ligue 1, Friday 11th August, 20:00 (UK)
The new Ligue 1 campaign gets underway this Friday night, and this should be a cracking opener at the Allianz Riviera. OGC Nice had a disappointing previous campaign which saw the mid-season sacking of Lucien Favre. He was replaced by Didier Digard, who did a decent job steadying the ship. However, Les Aiglons appointed 34-year-old boss Franceso Farioli who promises to be an exciting hire.
The former Alanyaspor manager has previously worked as an assistant under Roberto De Zerbi and is likely to bring a fast, high tempo and attractive style to the south coast. He has plenty of weapons to work with. The likes of Kephrem Thuram and striker Trem Moffi should have a great season under his stewardship.
This is a great manager match-up because Paulo Fonesca certainly impressed during his first season at LOSC. He led them to a 5th-placed finish, and, at times, they really caught the eye. Les Dogues were a big underachiever with the metrics, though.
OGC Nice had the best-expected points of any side (75.09), which was even higher than PSG! Their xG of 74.23 was only converted into 65 goals, despite having the talents of Canadian international Jonathan David upfront, who amassed 24 Ligue 1 strikes.
You have to think that this season they will convert more chances. This is likely to be a highly end-to-end type of game with several chances. All things point towards several goals scored. Over 2.5 goals can be backed at 1.90, and this looks generous.
- Selection: Over 2.5 goals
- Best Odds: 1.90
- Bookmaker: bet365
Montpellier vs Le Havre: Newly promoted Le Havre set to struggle in away opener
France Ligue 1, Sunday 13th August, 14:00 (UK)
Montpellier were deep in relegation trouble when they re-appointed Michel Der Zakarian as their head coach just after the winter break last season. He won nine out of 16 league matches and averaged a whopping 1.88 points per game.
That sort of form would have put MHSC in Champions League contention, and they will be looking to kick on this season. The club have been relatively quiet in the transfer market but caught the headlines this week by signing Nigerian striker Akor Adams from Norwegian club Lillestrom for an estimated £4.5m.
The Eliteserien top scorer is a physical beast and will help bolster their attack force.
A home fixture against a newly promoted team is an ideal start for La Pailade. They face Ligue 2 champions Le Havre, and it’s a surprise to see odds on the home win priced up close to the even money mark.
The visitors are back in the French top flight for the first time since the 2008/9 season, and it’s been a long wait for Les Ciel et Marine fans. They weren’t expected to go up last year, but a brilliant defensive record which saw them concede only 19 times all season was the key to their promotion. Staggeringly, 29 of their 38 fixtures ended with under 2.5 goals and they lacked firepower at the other end, only scoring 46 times.
It’s a big step up now to Ligue 1 level, and Montpellier should be able to find a way through them here. Considering Le Havre’s style and tactics, there’s a good chance of a home win to nil.
The overall quality and class of MHSC is enough to warrant backing them at 1.90 to win.
- Selection: Montpellier to win
- Best Odds: 1.90
- Bookmaker: bet365
More Montpellier vs Le Havre Tips
Rennes vs Metz: Rennes should dominate straight from the first whistle
France Ligue 1, Sunday 13th August, 16:05 (UK)
Rennes look criminally underrated heading into the new season. They are being priced up as the 6th or 7th best team in Ligue 1 when the reality is they are jostling with the likes of Lille, Monaco and several others for the Champions League positions. Head coach Bruno Genesio came under some fire last season for some underachieving results away from home and in Europe, but the Brittany outfit has done the right thing by retaining him.
Rennes at home are an absolute monster and won 29 of their last 38 fixtures at Roazhon Park in Ligue 1. They did lose here on the opening day of last season, which was a shock 0-1 defeat to Lorient, but they are well worthy of being short-priced favourites vs Metz. There is an abundance of quality right through the squad, especially in creative midfield with the likes of Lovro Majer, in addition to new signings Enzo Le Fee and Ludovic Blas.
Metz finished as runners-up in Ligue 2 last season, which was good enough for the final automatic promotion spot. They capitalised on Bordeaux’s poor finish to the campaign. Still, they were made to wait due to the controversial nature of the final round of fixtures which saw Bordeaux’s match get abandoned. Metz is the ultimate ‘yo-yo’ club, with four promotions and three relegations in the past decade. They start the season as the bookies’ favourite to be sent straight back down to Ligue 2 level.
The key player for Les Grenats is striker Georges Mikautadze who was the runaway top scorer last season, netting 23 goals. The Georgian international is on the radar of several clubs, and Metz will hope to keep him. The visitors will carry a threat with Mikautadze, but Rennes should dominate from start to finish.
As previously mentioned, Rennes are impressive at home, and HT/FT on the hosts looks generous at odds of 2.10 if they can pick up where they left off last term. They should come out strong here and likely get into an early lead which they won’t look back on.
- Selection: Rennes HT/FT Result
- Best Odds: 2.10
- Bookmaker: bet365
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