Ligue 2 betting tip : FC Metz- Ajaccio
Aug 20, 2018
Ligue 2 : FC Metz- Ajaccio
I looked at Metz's season opener, a trip to Brest on Matchday 1.............
Metz came down after two seasons in Ligue 1, in both of which they conceded a league high number of goals (148 in total) and my feeling is that even at the lower level that might be a nasty habit which is difficult to get out of . On the plus side their 33m€ L1 budget from last season has only been trimmed slighty, down to 30m€ and is bettered only by Lens , double that of Brest and all but four other clubs, so a real chance to compete, but like all relegated teams they will require a solid start and to get out of that losing mindset. However, for today , it is the host I wish to discuss with an eye to the coming weeks.
Brest have finished 5th in each of the last two seasons, were top two late in the campaign in the first of those and had a dip in form through each and need to step up. They have traditionally been a defensive minded team, who have an offensive head coach in Jean-Marc Furlan (who will be suspended for the first six games of the campaign), he is still working on the transition I guess, but this feels like make or break season for team and coach. I think they will create a lot of chances, on the right Julien Fassurier had 8 goals and a whopping 12 assists last season. he will be matched by Yoann Court on the other flank who had 7 and 11 in 50 appearances for a Gazelec side who did not play to his strengths, and 4+4 in 17 for relegated Bourg Perronas in the second half of last season. Brest have also added two versatile midfielders in Haris Belkebla (Tours) and Ferris N'Goma from Orleans who will both up energy levels considerably. Up front their main man will be Gaetan Charbonnier, not 100% sure that he will be the 15-20 goal man that Brest need, but after missing the start and pre season last year, he did score 9 from 25 apperances and finished on fire with six in his last five starts. He will be the main focus this year and looks sure to get even more service this time round. This is a team who have big potential at close to full strength.
But today, both Fassurier (missed one game in two seasons) and Court are missing with knocks, also out suspended is Charbonnier's main back up in Edouard Butin ( 6 goals, 4 assists last season). That doesn't leave a lot in terms of providing ammunition for the strikers and with the head coach in the stands and goals at a premium this round in L2, it is easy to see this playing out cautiously and a draw is a result which would probably suit both teams under the circumstances. I am tempted by that and/ or Metz with the start. Visiting striker Habib Diallo will feel very comfortable in these surroundings having spent last season on loan with Brest and he has 25 goals and 8 assists in Ligue 2, a scoring contribution every 126 minutes.
They won that 1-0 and have scored 10 goals subsequently in winning three additional games ( one cup), Diallo is L2 top scorer currently with five goals, fellow front man Ibrahima Niane has four (two cup) and already some intense competition between the pair. They will go back to the top of L2 with three points along with a two goal margin of victory which is an incentive and given that, the battle between the two front men and the head coach's birthday (yesterday) to celebrate, it is easy to see them pushing for a second, if and when they take the lead.
Ajaccio also made the opening round notes, I discussed in detail the dramatic events and then some of their 17-18 post season campaign and then added .............
Now a host of players have left the club, all three goalkeepers from last season , main central defender, both starting defensive midfielders and several others, looking at their last solid regular season performance a 2-0 win over Nancy in April, 5 starters from that game, six who played and two others who were on the bench have now moved on. Hard to know exactly what the mood is, I would say not good, add in that they played an extra 16 days only to come up short, with all the drama involved in those games on and off the pitch and they surely come into this season at a significant disadvantage.
They lost that 1-0 to Troyes (who have lost their other three L2 starts) and were also defeated 3-2 at home by Sochaux , but did win 1-0 on the road to newly promoted Beziers, they also drew 0-0 away to Paris FC in the cup last Tuesday, winning on penalties. I guess a few would argue that they have been better on the road, but they had to travel to Paris and back and now back up to Metz a similar journey, while the hosts have been at home for nine days. As far as I can see Ajaccio want to only play 4-4-2, but have just three full backs in the squad (two named today) and two forwards, neither of whom have a goal yet and both played 80 minutes plus in the midweek Coupe de la Ligue fixture, they only have two registered goalkeepers and one has exactly five minutes of first team football to his name and one recognised defensive midfielder. Few options and no real balance to the squad at present, I guess they will try to make additions before the end of the month........they certainly need them ! Home win and Metz to press for that second goal.
1.75 units FC Metz -1 ball 2.30 asian line/Sportmarket.
FC Metz: Delecroix, Oukidja, Udol, Jans, Rivierez, Boye, Sunzu, Fofana, Monteiro, Angban, Cohade, Jallow, Hein, Gakpa, Nguette, Diallo, Niane, Rivière.
Ajaccio: Leroy, Sollacaro,Avinel, Cabit, Choplin, Hergault, Marin,Boé-Kane, Cavalli, Lejeune, Nouri, Pellegrini, Tramoni, Youssouf, Dembélé, Laci,Gimbert, Mendes.
Good Luck .
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