Guingamp v Strasbourg Betting Tips: Hosts to re-find their form on home soil

19:16, 25 aug 2017
19:16, 25 aug 2017
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Having been slapped with two tough fixtures in a row, Guingamp can breathe a sigh of relief ahead of this match against newly promoted Strasbourg. The hosts may be coming off the back of two defeats in a row against PSG and Nice respectively, but this is a much more realistic task and is a game they really ought to be winning if the top half is where they wish to reside come May.

Since earning promotion from Ligue 2 last season, Strasbourg have made a rather up and down start to the new campaign; they’ve won one, drawn one and lost one. There’s certainly been an element of promise to their performances, although they have looked like a team who can definitely be got at, especially on their travels.

In front of a home crowd, this really is a good opportunity for the hosts; however, there is a niggling concern over their defensive reliability, even against a side for whom Ligue 1 football is a new experience. Montpellier really should’ve put Strasbourg to the sword last weekend and, having seen that, the hosts will fancy their chances of scoring goals here, but doing so whilst keeping a clean sheet might prove to be an unrealistic expectation. With this in mind, the two bets that stand out are ‘Guingamp to Win & Both Teams to Score’ and ‘Guingamp to Score Over 1.5 Goals’. 

The hosts may not have found the net since scoring three goals away to Metz on the opening weekend, but, as mentioned above, facing PSG and Nice, two of last season’s top three, was never going to be easy. Despite losing both, conceding five overall and scoring none, Guingamp weren’t totally disgraced and did in fact show promising glimpses of attacking football, especially against PSG on home soil. What’s more, the fact that Antoine Kombouaré’s men enjoyed themselves at Stade de Roudourou last season, especially against the lesser sides, bodes well. The hosts had Ligue 1’s fifth-best home record last season and lost just once at home to sides outside of the top half, while they also beat a few of the top teams too, 2-1 victories over PSG and Lyon being the highlights. With the likes of Jimmy Briand, Nicolas Benezet and new signing Abdoul Camara in their ranks, the hosts should be able to forge plenty of openings against a side who’ve been conceding plenty of chances and who’ve struggled defensively in both of their away matches so far this season. Young winger Ludovic Blas also adds an exciting element, usually off the bench.

Although they’re indeed fancied to enjoy themselves going forward, it’s somewhat difficult to envisage this match being plain sailing for the hosts at the back. They ought to have enough about them to come out on top, but they too have conceded both a number of chances and goals so far this season and not just against PSG and Nice. Against Metz on the opening day, a clean sheet remained elusive for Kombouaré’s side and, although they overpowered the favourites for the drop offensively, they did allow their opposition to get at them at times. Against a Strasbourg side who’ve scored a few goals already this season, including in their latest away match, Guingamp could struggle to keep the door shut once more.

As touched on above, Strasbourg have managed to muster something of an offensive threat so far this season and their 4-0 opening day defeat away at Lyon remains the only match in which they’ve failed to score. Despite presenting Montpellier with a number of clear-cut chances last time out, they did carry a threat themselves and were duly rewarded with a goal. A similar outcome here certainly isn’t out of the question, especially with Guingamp looking to get forward (and thus leave space in behind) a lot. The visitors could struggle to keep tabs on the hosts from a defensive point of view, but don’t be surprised if they carry out some notable attacking-work of their own.

All in all, this is a match where the hosts stand out as the better side and they’re indeed fancied to confirm superiority by overpowering the visitors going forward; however, with a slightly squeaky back-line and with the visitors looking to profit on the counter, they might have to wait a little bit longer for a first clean sheet of the season.

More tips can be found here.

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