Metz vs Le Havre
FreeToday’s featured game is the Ligue 2 encounter between promotion rivals Metz and Le Havre. Metz have been on a good run of form lately and are finally showing their potential as a result. Le Havre played well earlier this season but peaked a little too early in my opinion and have struggled of late so may have issues in this game tonight.
Metz are traditionally a strong home side in Ligue 2 with eight wins in twelve home games. Metz only average scoring approximately 1.5 goals per home game so it’s easy to see that their strength lies predominantly in their reliable defence. Only league leaders Stade Malherbe de Caen have conceded less goals at home than Metz have this season with Metz averaging conceding less than a goal per game – just eight in twelve games, in fact. Metz have won three out of their last four games, drawing the other encounter, so their morale and momentum are both good. They’ve only conceded twice during those four games, which is a total of two goals in four games – an average of a goal every two games. They’ve scored six goals during that time however so it’s easy to see why they’re winning games. They’ve won two away games during that run, which is impressive because Metz struggle an awful lot away from home. However, amidst their run they have claimed a valuable home win against promotion rivals Nimes in a convincing 3-1 victry so Metz are very much capable of doing damage at home. With Metz being one of the best sides in Ligue 2 and having everything in their favour tonight, you have to feel that Metz have enough to win this game.
Visitors Le Havre have struggled of late with just one win in their last six games and that victory was at home to lowly Istres. Le Havre simply aren’t scoring enough goals with just five goals scored in their past six games. They’ve scored and conceded just two goals in their last three away games, losing once and drawing twice. Le Havre have already lost five away games in Ligue 2 this season and with their goal-shy displays yielding just ten goals in thirteen games, it’s hard to see that changing against an impressive Metz side tonight. Le Havre are not only unable to gain results at the moment but their general performances aren’t good enough and if they’re not careful then they’ll slip from the promotion reckonings, which would be a disaster for the recently-relegated side.
Although both of these two sides are capable of playing good football, Metz are in the ascendancy and Le Havre are in the descandancy which immediately hands the advantage to Metz. Metz are traditionally very good at home and this season hasn’t been an exception. Le Havre struggle to score goals on the road and there aren’t many places in Ligue 2 that it’s harder to score goals than Metz so Le Havre have real issues tonight. Ultimately, a drive Metz should have too much for an unconvincing Le Havre so the odds on the home win look good value to me.
Verdict: Metz to win at evens.
Monday’s Picks
My tips:
I quite fancy Cherno More Varna to overcome Chernomorets Burgas but I haven’t got enough to go off to back them with any kind of reasoning. Therefore, my only recommended bet for today is a four-team accumulator containing Metz, AEL Limassol, Cambuur Leeuwarden, and CD Nacional at 6/1.
For the complete picks listing, see below!
Bulgarian A PFG:
Cherno More Varna vs Chernomorets Burgas (6) 2-1
Cypriot Division 1:
AEL Limassol vs Nea Salamis (8) 2-0
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Viktoria Plzen vs Banik Ostrava (5) 0-1
French Ligue 2:
Metz vs Le Havre (7)
German Bundesliga 2:
Alemannia Aachen vs Fortuna Dusseldorf (5)
Greek B Ethniki:
Thrasivoulos vs Pierikos Katerini (6)
Rhodos vs Diagoras Rodos (6)
Dutch Eerste Divisie:
Cambuur Leeuwarden vs Fortuna Sittard (8) over 2.5 goals
Emmen vs Oss (5)
Veendam vs Eindhoven (6)
Dordrecht ’90 vs Den Bosch (6)
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
CD Nacional vs Belenenses (8) 2-0
Swiss Challenge League:
Kriens vs Thun (5)
Enjoy your free betting tips!