Ligue 1 Betting: Monaco to get top-three challenge back on track

Go for Goals

Metz v Angers (20th v 14th)
Sunday, 16:00 BST
Watch it Live on Betfair Live Video

An open game is likely at Stade Saint-Symphorien on Sunday afternoon as Metz battle to avoid relegation.

The hosts are bottom of Ligue 1 and need to win to stand any chance of still being alive when they head into next weekend's penultimate round of matches.

The evidence is that Metz will take an attacking approach as they look to get out of trouble. Manager Frederic Hantz has used fairly brave tactics in recent weeks and the result has been a number of high-scoring games.

Four of Metz's five games in April featured three or more goals, with three of those games having four or more goals. In last-chance saloon, Metz are likely to throw men forward this weekend, with 15-goal top scorer Nolan Roux – who's enjoyed his best-ever Ligue 1 season – the main threat.

Angers are keen to finish the season strongly after an impressive 1-1 draw against Marseille last weekend. Manager Stephane Moulin has asked his players for a big performance this weekend and the visitors are fully capable of contributing to an entertaining event.

Over 2.5 Goals is the tip for this one.

Lille the tip

Toulouse v Lille (17th v 19th)
Sunday, 16:00 BST
Live on Betfair Live Video

This is a massive clash near the foot of the table and it's hard to know why Toulouse are clear favourites to win.

Toulouse are 2.18 even though only two places and two points separate these two sides in the standings.

Toulouse have won just six of 17 home games this season and taken all three points in just two of their last 10 games (W2-D4-L4) against non-top four sides.

Lille's form is nothing to write home about but they'll arrive in quietly confident mood after their 3-1 victory over bottom club Metz last weekend.

Fighting for their lives, Lille will give everything and are a reasonable bet to avoid defeat giving how little there is to pick between the teams.

Monaco ready for return to form

Caen v Monaco (15th v 3rd)
Sunday, 16:00 BST
Live on BT Sport 3 and Betfair Live Video

Monaco are a good bet to win at around evens at Stade Michel d'Ornano this weekend.

The visitors are locked in a three-way battle with Lyon and Marseille for a top-three spot so have everything to play for.

Monaco are as big as 1.90 to win because they're in poor form having picked up just one point from their last three matches.

They were thrashed 7-1 at PSG, then lost 3-1 at Guingamp and could only draw 0-0 at home to bottom-half Amiens last weekend.

There are concerns about the spirit and attitude of the players, with Leonardo Jardim's team appearing to run out of energy before the finish line.

Yet Monaco have too many good players to continue underperforming and should have enough quality to pick up all three points on Sunday afternoon.

Caen have lost five of their last seven matches (W0-D2-L5) so there's nothing to suggest the hosts can avoid defeat.

Caen have also lost six out of six games against Ligue 1's Big Four (PSG, Lyon, Monaco, Marseille) this season. They've scored just twice and conceded 15 times across those six matches, including a 2-0 defeat in the first meeting with Monaco.

James' 2017-18 P/L

Staked: 98pts
Returned: 102.30pts
P/L: +4.30pts

Recommended Ligue 1 Betting Tips

1. Metz v Angers Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.00
2. Lay Toulouse at home to Lille @ 2.20
3. Monaco to win at Caen @ 1.90