PSG vs Monaco Match Preview, Predictions & Free Bets
Dan Tracey The international break is behind us until next March and we restart our club focus with a trip to France.
Across The Channel
The headline clash in Ligue 1 will be found in France’s capital and both PSG and Monaco will be looking to make headlines of their own.
First Versus Third
The fact that PSG find themselves top of Ligue 1 after the international pause is nothing new and although they have said goodbye to the pair of Lionel Messi and Neymar, there is still an embarrassing amount of talent for manager Luis Enrique to work with.
However, there is something new bubbling beneath the surface of France’s top tier and this a lesser spotted title race which is starting to pick up pace. Yes, PSG may still be overwhelming favourites to come out on top, but they may have to work harder for it than in previous years.
With the November hiatus now been and gone, it is the Parisians who find themselves top of the table and they do so by virtue of a one-point lead over Nice – a Nice outfit that is owned by a certain Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
A name that is looming larger in Manchester United circles and although it may take time to turn around that footballing institution, success over the English Channel could be delivered by the end of the season.
Especially if the third team in this early title mix do Nice a huge favour and this is where Monaco now enter the fray. The Monte Carlo men step forward as PSG’s opposition on Friday and they have certainly been one of the most entertaining teams in the division thus far.
With 25 goals scored in just 12 matches, the team managed by Adi Hütter are currently averaging 2.08 per game and the only team that has bettered that figure is none other than the team that plays hosts at the start of the weekend.
An average of 2.08 goals for Monaco, an average of 2.41 for PSG. In addition to the latter topping the scoring charts, they also have the meanest defence. A defence so mean that they are only conceding 0.75 goals a game.
The almost perennial French champions have won each of their last five league outings and across that quintet, they have also managed to keep three clean sheets. Not only that, but each of those wins has saw them score three goals per game.
A run that suggests that PSG are now starting to find the gears they are accustomed to driving in but at the same time, they will be aware that all impressive streaks come to an end and Monaco could be the perfect team to end it.
But now it is time for the first of my two tips and although I think PSG will win, that alone is not going to trouble the bookmakers. Therefore, it is time to use the goal data above and I am backing the home win and over four goals in a two-leg bet builder at odds of 3/1.
In addition to this, I am backing Monaco’s Wissam Ben Yidder to get on the scoresheet. The 33-year-old has scored five league goals this season and if number six is the last goal of the night, the reward will be odds of 8/1 to anyone else who backs this.
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