Evian Thonon Gaillard vs Lorient
FreeWant to obtain team news from around the world? Maybe just to support the site for all the hard work that goes into it? Click here for membership details. Need outright wins instead of value picks? Click here for strike rate and other consultancy details.
Today’s secondary featured game is the Ligue 1 encounter between Evian Thonan Gaillard and Lorient.
The hosts have earned a few admiring glances from both Europe and France alike for their impressive displays this season. They’ve proven to be a very hard side to beat despite being new to Ligue 1 and is it any wonder? They’ve got some great former players working behind the scenes at the club, for a start. Additionally, they’re one of the only sides that I can name that competes in a top division in Europe that actually has an altitude advantage, which certainly makes them hard to play against on their own turf. There’s lots of experience in this squad with the likes of Govou, Barbosa, and Leroy in their ranks. Evian Thonan Gaillard are a little suspect at the back but in front of goal, they look a threat and I expect that to be the same again today.
Lorient themselves are no pushovers; far from it, in fact. However, they have two regular problems in Ligue 1 that ultimately mean that winning away from home in this division is a rarity for them. The first is their inability to score goals, which has naturally gotten even worse since Gameiro signed for Paris Saint-Germain pre-season. The second is that their home games are played on artificial turf, which subsequently makes it harder for them to play on natural turf on the road. Lorient are quite adept at keeping other sides out but for them to actually win a game like this they’re going to have to play better than they have at any point this season, in my view.
The hosts might be a little weak at the back but they’ve got the firepower to win this one, in my view. At the very least I expect Evian Thonan Gaillard to draw this game so for me, there’s value on the home win with draw no bet cover at 9/10.
Verdict: Evian Thonon Gaillard to win with draw no bet at 9/10.
Saturday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, please find my value tips listed below in no particular order:
Lokeren vs Germinal Beerschot – home win at 9/10.
I appreciate that Lokeren’s home record isn’t good this season due to a poor start but how they’re 9/10 to beat a side at home that they’re leagues ahead of just beggars belief! Germinal are always a crap away side, year in, year out, and this year is no different. They score goals on the road, true enough, but they ship lots and against a side like Lokeren that has bags of firepower, you have to feel that these odds are far too generous to overlook today. Not one to wade into blindly or heavily here but if Lokeren put up a display that is even half as good as they actually are then they should win this one with relative ease. For me, there’s great value on the home win at 9/10 today – if Lokeren were in-form they’d be around 7/10 to win this game!
Verdict: Lokeren to win at 9/10.
AEK Larnaca vs AEL Limassol – home win with draw no bet at 6/5.
This is another tight game but it’s one that I like. AEK Larnaca’s results should pick up now defensive stalwart Hofland is back and although they still have a couple of absentees, they’re on the road back to the side that they were last year. Hofland is very much a quintessential part of this team and we should see that today. The visitors have had an outstanding start to the current season although their statistics don’t really reflect how hard a lot of their games have actually been to get something from. I commend AEL Limassol for their defending but their attacking has been quite poor in most of their games. Their players are still trying to gel/bond whereas the hosts don’t have that issue. The only issue the hosts have is whether to play a full first-team or not with European commitments looming large next week. However, I can’t see AEK Larnaca losing this one as them not scoring at home would surprise me and AEL aren’t potent enough (yet) to score more than once here. For me, there’s value on taking the home win with draw no bet today.
Verdict: AEK Larnaca to win with draw no bet at 6/5.
Accumulator fodder:
Racing Genk, Levski Sofia, Ludogorets, Cherno More Varna, Hajduk Split, APOEL Nicosia, Manchester City, Gyori ETO FC, Metalurg Skopje, Vardar Skopje, AFC Ajax Amsterdam, PSV Eindhoven, Heerenveen, Dinamo Bucharest, Rangers, Sevojno, Partizan Belgrade, Barcelona, Bangor City.
Recommended bets:
Evian Thonon Gaillard DNB, Barcelona -1.5, and PSV Eindhoven at around 9/5.
As ever, if there are any explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below, although I feel compelled to write that the below are not necessarily my tips but merely my thoughts to prevent endless questions about my thoughts on certain games!
Argentinian Primera Division:
Argentinos Juniors vs Godoy Cruz de Mendoza (6) 1-1
Independiente vs Olimpo (6) 1-0
Belgrano de Cordoba vs Velez Sarsfield (6) 1-2
Australian A-League:
Wellington Phoenix vs Adelaide United (6) 1-2
Newcastle Jets vs Brisbane Roar (4) 1-1
Sydney FC vs Central Coast Mariners (6) 2-1
Austrian Bundesliga:
Wiener Neustadt vs Sturm Graz (5) 1-2
Wacker Innsbruck vs SV Mattersburg (6) 1-0
Admira Wacker vs Austria Vienna (5) 1-1
SV Kapfenberg vs SV Ried (6) 1-1
Belarusian Vysshaya Liga:
Torpedo Zhodino vs Naftan Novopolotsk (7) 2-0
Belshina Bobriusk vs Shakhtyor Soligorsk (6) 0-0
Gomel vs Dinamo Minsk (5) 1-2, at least one red card in this game
FC Minsk vs Dinamo Brest (7) 2-1
BATE Borisov vs Dnepr Mogilev (7) 2-1
Vitebsk vs Neman Grodno (5) 1-1
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Racing Genk vs Westerlo (8) 2-0
Lokeren vs Germinal Beerschot (7) 2-0
Kortrijk vs AA Gent (5) over 2.5 goals, both sides to score
Mechelen vs Zulte-Waregem (5) 2-1
Mons vs Lierse SK (7) 2-1
Brazilian Serie A:
Sao Paulo vs America Mineiro (7) 1-0
Vasco da Gama vs Avai (7) 2-0
Gremio vs Ceara (7) 1-0
Bulgarian A PFG:
Montana vs Slavia Sofia (5) 1-1
Cherno More Varna vs Svetkavitsa (8) 2-0
Ludogorets vs Kaliakra (8) -1.5 handicap
Levski Sofia vs Rakovski (8) 2-1
Chilean Primera Division:
Deportes Iquique vs Colo Colo (5) 1-1
Santiago Morning vs Universidad de Concepcion (7) 2-1
Santiago Wanderers vs O’Higgins (4) 0-0
La Serena vs Cobreloa (4) 1-1
Union San Felipe vs Cobresal (5) 1-0
Union Espanola vs Audax Italiano (6) 2-1
Colombian Primera A:
Millonarios Bogota vs America de Cali (7) 2-0
Real Cartagena vs La Equidad Bogota (4) 1-1
Independiente Medellin vs Atletico Huila (7) 1-0
Croatian Prva Liga:
Varteks Varazdin vs Inter Zapresic (7) 0-1
Sibenik vs Lucko (7) 2-0
Zadar vs Osijek (5) 0-0
Istra 1961 vs Slaven Koprivnica (6) 1-1
Lokomotiva Zagreb vs Hajduk Split (8) 0-2
Cypriot Division 1:
Anagennisi Deryneia vs Anorthosis Famagusta (7) 0-1
Apollon Limassol vs Alki (7) 2-0
APOEL Nicosia vs Ermis (9) -1.5 handicap
AEK Larnaca vs AEL Limassol (6) 1-0
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Dukla Prague vs Teplice (6) 2-1
Slovacko vs Slovan Liberec (5) 0-0
Viktoria Plzen vs Mlada Boleslav (7) 2-0
Danish Superligaen:
AC Horsens vs OB Odense (6) 2-1
Ecuadorian Primera A:
El Nacional Quito vs Imbabura (7) 2-1
Deportivo Cuenca vs Olmedo Riobamba (7) 2-1
Barcelona Guayaquil vs Emelec Guayaquil (5) 0-1, at least one red card in this game
English Premier League:
Norwich City vs Arsenal (7) 1-2
Everton vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (6) 1-0
Manchester City vs Newcastle United (8) 2-0
Stoke City vs Queens Park Rangers (7) 1-0
Sunderland vs Fulham (6) 1-0
West Bromwich Albion vs Bolton Wanderers (6) 2-1
Wigan Athletic vs Blackburn Rovers (6) 0-0
Swansea City vs Manchester United (7) 0-1
English Championship:
Burnley vs Leeds United (6) over 2.5 goals
Nottingham Forest vs Ipswich Town (4)
Watford vs Portsmouth (4)
Birmingham City vs Peterborough United (7) over 2.5 goals
Middlesbrough vs Blackpool (5) both sides to score
Coventry City vs West Ham United (7)
Derby County vs Hull City (5)
Barnsley vs Doncaster Rovers (6) at least one red card in this game
Southampton vs Brighton & Hove Albion (7) over 2.5 goals, both sides to score
Reading vs Cardiff City (6)
French Ligue 1:
AC Ajaccio vs Stade Malherbe de Caen (5) 0-0
Dijon FCO vs Girondins de Bordeaux (7) 1-1
Evian Thonon Gaillard vs Lorient (7) 1-0
OGC Nice vs Saint-Etienne (6) 1-1
Montpellier HSC vs Olympique de Marseille (5) 0-1
German Bundesliga:
Schalke 04 vs Nurnberg (6) 2-1
SC Freiburg vs Hertha BSC Berlin (7) 2-1
Koln vs Mainz 05 (5) 0-0
VfL Wolfsburg vs Hannover 96 (5) 1-0
Borussia Moenchengladbach vs Werder Bremen (5) 2-2
Bayern Munich vs Bv09 Borussia Dortmund (7) 2-0
Greek Super League:
Kerkyra vs Ergotelis (6) 1-1
AEK Athens vs Asteras Tripolis (7) 1-0
Olympiakos Piraeus vs Panathinaikos (7) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Hungarian Soproni Liga:
Fehervar vs Siofok (6) 1-0
Szombathelyi Haladas vs Pecsi MFC (5) 0-0
Zalaegerszegi TE vs Diosgyori VTK (5) 1-1
Kecskemeti TE vs Paksi SE (6) 2-2
Gyori ETO FC vs Budapest Honved (8) 2-0
Italian Serie A:
Internazionale vs Cagliari (7) 2-1
Fiorentina vs AC Milan (5) 1-1
SSC Napoli vs Lazio (7) 2-1
Japanese J-League:
Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs Kawasaki Frontale (5) 1-1
Jubilo Iwata vs Ventforet Kofu (6) 1-0
Albirex Niigata vs Gamba Osaka (7) 1-2
Yokohama F.Marinos vs Nagoya Grampus (4) 1-1
Urawa Red Diamonds vs Vegalta Sendai (4) 1-1
Omiya Ardija vs Kashima Antlers (6) 1-2
Montedio Yamagata vs Avispa Fukuoka (5) over 2.5 goals
Macedonian First League:
Teteks Tetovo vs Horizont Turnovo (6) 1-0
Metalurg Skopje vs 11 Oktomvri (8) 2-0
Vardar Skopje vs Napredok (8) 2-0
Bregalnica Stip vs Renova Dzepciste (5) 0-0
Sileks Kratovo vs Ohrid (7) 1-0
Mexican Primera Division:
Queretaro vs Guadalajara (5) 0-1
Morelia vs Cruz Azul (6) 1-2
Moldovan Divizia Nationala:
Costuleni vs Olimpia Balti (6) 1-1
Iskra-Stali vs Sheriff Tiraspol (7) over 2.5 goals
Sfintul Gheorghe vs Dacia Chisinau (7) 1-2
Zimbru Chisinau vs Milsami Orhei (6) 1-0
CSCA-Rapid Chisinau vs Nistru Otaci (5) 2-1
Tiraspol vs Academia-UTM Chisinau (7) 1-0
Dutch Eredivisie:
De Graafschap vs PSV Eindhoven (8) over 2.5 goals
NEC Nijmegen vs Roda JC Kerkrade (6) 1-1
Heerenveen vs RKC Waalwijk (8) over 2.5 goals
Heracles Almelo vs Twente Enschede (6) 1-2, at least one red card in this game
AFC Ajax Amsterdam vs NAC Breda (8) over 2.5 goals
Paraguayan Division Profesional:
Independiente FBC vs Nacional Asuncion (6) 0-1
Rubio Nu vs Libertad Asuncion (6) 0-1
Peruvian Primera Division:
Cobresol vs Universitario Lima (6) 0-1
Alianza Lima vs Sport Huancayo (7) 2-0
Polish Ekstraklasa:
GKS Belchatow vs LKS Lodz (6) 1-0
Ruch Chorzow vs Cracovia Krakow (4) 1-1
Legia Warsaw vs Lechia Gdansk (6) 2-1
Polish Liga 1:
Flota Swinoujscie vs Kolejarz Stroze (7)
Ruch Radzionkow vs Bogdanka Leczna (6)
Olimpia Elblag vs Zawisza Bydgoszcz (4)
Gornik Polkowice vs Dolcan Zabki (6)
Katowice vs Olimpia Grudziadz (7)
Arka Gdynia vs Sandecja Nowy Sacz (4)
Romanian Liga:
FC Brasov vs Mioveni (7) 1-0
Dinamo Bucharest vs Vointa Sibiu (8) over 2.5 goals
CFR Cluj vs Universitatea Cluj (6) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Russian Premier League:
Volga Nizhnyi Novgorod vs Amkar Perm’ (6) 1-0
Terek Grozny vs Krylya Sovetov Samara (7) 2-0
FK Krasnodar vs Spartak Nal’chik (6) 2-1
Scottish Premier League:
Inverness Caledonian Thistle vs Celtic (7) 0-1
Aberdeen vs Motherwell (5) 1-1
Dundee United vs Hearts (5) 1-1
Hibernian vs Kilmarnock (6) 2-1
Rangers vs St.Johnstone (8) 2-0
St.Mirren vs Dunfermline Athletic (5) 0-0
Serbian Superliga:
Sevojno vs Metalac GM (8) 2-0
OFK Belgrade vs Radnicki 1923 (4) 2-2
Jagodina vs Red Star Belgrade (7) 0-1
Spartak Subotica vs Javor Ivanjica (5) 1-0
Partizan Belgrade vs Borac Cacak (8) 2-0
Vojvodina Novi Sad vs Smederevo (7) 2-0
Slovakian Corgon Liga:
Nitra vs Kosice (6) 1-0
Ruzomberok vs Tatran Presov (7) 2-1
Dukla Banska Bystrica vs Senica (6) 1-1
Spartak Trnava vs MSK Zilina (5) 1-1
DAC Dunajska Streda vs Trencin (5) 1-0
Slovenian Prva Liga:
Triglav vs Gorica (6) 2-1
Domzale vs Olimpija Ljubljana (5) 1-1
Maribor vs Koper (7) 2-0
Rudar Velenje vs Nafta Lendava (6) 1-0
Spanish Primera Liga:
Villarreal CF vs Real Betis Balompie (6) 1-0
Barcelona vs Real Zaragoza (8) -1.5 handicap
Valencia CF vs Real Madrid (6) 1-2
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Real Valladolid vs Villarreal II (7)
Alcoyano vs Recreativo de Huelva (6)
Cordoba vs Alcorcon (4)
Girona vs Sabadell (5) both sides to score
Real Murcia vs Barcelona II (5) over 2.5 goals
Celta de Vigo vs Hercules Alicante (6)
Numancia vs Huesca (7)
Las Palmas vs Deportivo Xerez (4)
Swiss Super League:
Basel vs Young Boys Bern (6) 2-1
Thun vs Servette (7) 1-0
Swiss Challenge League:
Bruhl vs Biel-Bienne (6)
Etoile Carouge vs Wohlen (5)
Turkish Super Lig:
Ankaragucu vs Karabukspor (6) 1-0
Kayserispor vs Orduspor (6) 2-1
Fenerbahce vs Eskisehirspor (7) 1-0
Ukrainian Premier League:
Tavriya Simferopol vs Volyn Lutsk (6) 1-0
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Metalurg Donetsk (8) 2-0, at least one red card in this game
Dnipro Dnepropetrovsk vs Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih (7) 2-0
Chernomorets Odessa vs Karpaty Lviv (6) 1-0
Uruguayan Primera Division:
Defensor Sporting vs Bella Vista (7) 2-0
Racing Club Montevideo vs Cerro Largo (6) 2-1
Montevideo Wanderers vs Cerrito (7) 1-0
Danubio vs Cerro (6) 2-1
El Tanque Sisley vs River Plate Montevideo (4) 1-1
Welsh Premier League:
Bangor City vs Carmarthen Town (8) -1.5 handicap
Prestatyn Town vs Port Talbot Town (7) 2-0
Enjoy your free betting tips!