French Ligue 1 – Matchday 1 – Best Bets, Odds, Picks & Predictions

The 2020/21 Ligue 1 season kicks off this weekend, with plenty of exciting matchups to get our teeth into. The two newly promoted teams – Lorient and Lens – are both in action on Sunday, while European chasers Monaco, Reims, and Nice also feature. 

Here are my best value Ligue 1 bets for Matchday 1. 

Monaco vs. Reims – 08/22/20 

I think the bookies have got this one all wrong. Reims actually finished sixth last term, while Monaco finished ninth. Yes, there was only one point separating the two sides. But there is no denying that Reims were the better team throughout the campaign. Monaco are favorites here at 1.91, with the Reims win all the way up at 4.00. However, I recommend using the double chance market to give yourself a bit of leeway. Let’s not forget that Reims boasted the best defensive record in the division last term. 

Pick: Reims and Draw Double Chance – 2.00 

Lorient vs. Strasbourg – 08/22/20 

Considering that Lorient are playing their first game back in Ligue 1 for a number of years, odds of 2.88 for the away win in this matchup seem too good to miss. Strasbourg finished the previous campaign in strong form, losing just three of their final 11 games and winning six during that period. On the other hand, Lorient only finished one point clear at the top of Ligue 2, and there were only four points separating the top five teams. I think the away win is the way to go here. 

Pick: Strasbourg to Win – 2.88 

Nice vs. Lens – 08/22/20 

Nice enjoyed another excellent season under Patrick Vieira, finishing fifth and qualifying for the Europa League. Only three teams scored more goals than Vieira’s men last term, although they did finish 2019/20 with the poorest defensive record in the top eight. In fact, only five sides conceded more goals than Nice in Ligue 1 last season. With that in mind, the price for both teams to score seems very generous here. Nice love to attack, but that often leaves the team exposed at the back. 

Pick: Both Teams to Score – 1.85