French Ligue 1 – Matchday 2 – Best Bets, Odds, Picks & Predictions

France’s top flight returns this weekend, with all 20 teams in action on Matchday 2. The opening round was disrupted due to the pandemic, but we have ten matchups to look forward to this weekend. 

Here are the best value bets for Matchday 2 of the 2020/21 Ligue 1 season. 

Reims vs. Lille – 08/30/20 

Reims kicked off their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Monaco, but that result is out of character for Reims. After all, Reims boasted the best defensive record in the division last term (21), conceding three less goals than champions PSG (24.) Furthermore, only last year’s bottom club Toulouse scored fewer goals than Reims. Lille also didn’t score many last term and finished the campaign with the joint third best goal difference. Lille come into this game on the back of a 1-1 draw with Rennes. All the signs are pointing towards a low-scoring matchup here. 

Pick: Under 2.5 Goals – 1.70 

Metz vs. Monaco – 08/30/20 

It’s hardly surprising that Monaco’s opening game of the season produced over 3.5 goals. It’s also not a shock that there were two goals at both ends. Only PSG scored more goals than Monaco last term, while only the bottom four sides conceded more. Metz are the outsiders at 3.60 here, with Monaco the favorite at 2.00. But in all honesty, this game could go either way. I’m steering clear of the outright markets for this game and going with over 3.5 goals. 

Pick: Over 3.5 Goals – 3.60 

Angers vs. Bordeaux – 08/30/20 

Angers only finished two points ahead of Bordeaux last season, but it felt as though the Black and Whites enjoyed a far more successful 2019/20 than Bordeaux. Angers kicked off the new campaign with victory over Dijon, meaning they have now won four straight Ligue 1 games after claiming three victories at the end of last term. On the other hand, Bordeaux were held to a goalless draw by Nantes. Given Angers’ impressive winning streak, I think the price for the home win is too good to miss. 

Pick: Angers to Win – 2.20