Phoenix Suns
Weekend Parlay: Back Nice vs AS Monaco
There are quite a few intriguing fixtures in France’s top-flight this weekend. Whilst fourth-place Lille will travel to defending champions PSG, Toulouse will host Nantes in a rematch of last year’s Coupe de France. However, in terms of the marquee matchup, it seems that Ligue 1 has saved the best for last with Nice facing off against Monaco on Sunday afternoon in the Derby de la Côte d’Azur.
Nice sit eight points behind PSG, three above Brest, four above Monaco and seven above Lens, and they are on track to finish in the top two and seal a place in the Champions League main format for the first time in 65 years (they reached the qualifiers stage in 2017-18 only to lose to Napoli). More and more Ligue 1 betting odds connoisseurs are placing their faith in Les Aiglons, who will be without two key figures in attack for their upcoming match as Jeremie Boga and Terem Moffi face off in the Africa Cup of Nations Final.
No matter what happens on Sunday, Nottingham Forest and OGC Nice will have at least one AFCON champion in their squad come next week. pic.twitter.com/3P2TFnl7Jh
— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) February 8, 2024
Moffi scored a brace and an assist in Nice’s 3-0 win at Monaco on Feb. 26 whilst their following match on Septe. 22 would see Monaco suffer their first defeat of the campaign as Boga’s individual heroics in extra time saw them escape with a 1-0 win at the principality. Les Aiglons have scored just 20 goals in 20 matches, but they nevertheless find themselves on pace to finish in the top two thanks to a stalwart backline.
Whilst Monaco have let in 28 goals, the worst tally in Ligue 1’s top 13 sides, Nice have conceded 11 goals and boasts the second-best defense in Europe’s top 5 leagues after Inter Milan (10). Moreover, only Inter (14) have more clean sheets in Europe than Nice (13).
The Las Vegas odds are in Nice’s favor as they look to finish in the top four, with our sportsbooks backing them at -335 ahead of Monaco (-175) and Lille (-120), and they can take a huge step towards securing European football by coming away with the three points against their local rivals.
Whilst neither Monaco nor Nice are currently playing in Europe, only one of them has booked their ticket to the Coupe de France quarterfinals. Nice thrashed Montpellier 4-1 midweek, but Monaco exited the cup on Thursday after losing on penalties to third-tier FC Rouen following a 1-1 stalemate.
Monaco have not tasted victory in Ligue 1, taking two points from three matches whilst Nice have dropped points just once at home since the start of September – a 0-0 draw vs. Brest on Oct. 1. After kicking off February with a goalless draw at Brest, we’re expecting them to bounce back with a low-scoring victory in our Ligue 1 online betting picks. Each of Les Aiglons’ last four league matches have yielded under 2.5 goals, and we’re expecting their stellar defensive record to hold up yet again.
Werder Bremen Walking on Sunshine Under Werner
Werder Bremen have not lost since Dec. 2, and we’re backing them to continue their impressive run of form against Heidenheim in our Bundesliga betting predictions.
It looks set to be an enthralling weekend of football in Germany with Bayern Munich traveling to Bayer Leverkusen in a top-of-the-table clash whilst Stuttgart will be looking to bounce back from their midweek DFB-Pokal elimination with a win vs. Mainz. However, perhaps the hidden gem of the upcoming Bundesliga fixtures will take place at the Weserstadion.
Werder Bremen have won their last three league fixtures, the longest winning streak in the German top-flight alongside Bayern Munich, and there’s more than enough reason to include them in your Bundesliga picks and parlays.
Werder Bremen finished 13th in their return to the top-flight in 2022-23, just three points above the relegation playoff spot, but today, they find themselves ninth in the table, 11 points above the relegation play-off spot, two points above 10th-placed Heidenheim, and within touching distance of the European positions.
Since taking charge in November 2021, Ole Werner has guided them to promotion and stabilized the River Islanders as a comfortable mid-table side this season. They have emerged as a force to be reckoned with at home, losing just once since the October international break – a 3-0 loss to Leverkusen on Nov. 25.
Werder Bremen are undoubtedly one of the most in-form sides in Europe!
First time since 2020 that they have gone 7 consecutive Bundesliga matches without defeat.
First time since 2019 that they have won 3 consecutive Bundesliga matches.
Ole Werner (35 yrs) working wonders! pic.twitter.com/wEqj3rjvlz
— Adam Khan (@XxAdamKhanxX) February 4, 2024
Despite losing Bundesliga top scorer Niclas Fulkrug to Borussia Dortmund, Werder Bremen have emerged as a welcome surprise for Bundesliga online bettors, and they’ll be taking on a Heidenheim side that is playing in the top-flight for the first time in their entire history. Werder secured their first win against Bayern since 2008, edging the defending champions 1-0 via a goal from Mitchell Weiser before opening the scoring within nine minutes via a penalty from Marvin Ducksch in a 3-1 win vs. Freiburg. Ducksch broke the deadlock within two minutes as Werder opened February with a 1-0 win at Mainz, and he’ll be looking to take his tally to 10 Bundesliga goals and score against Heidenheim for the second straight match.
Having earned his first-ever Germany call-up in November, the 29-year-old striker is banging on the door for a recall to Julian Nagelsmann’s side ahead of the upcoming European Championships.
Questions Of The Day
Which team is likely to keep a clean sheet this weekend in Ligue 1?
Nice have held Monaco scoreless in each of their last two meetings, and they have the tools to come away with their 14th clean sheet of the Ligue 1 season.
Which Bundesliga player is likely to score this weekend?
Marvin Ducksch is in scintillating form at the moment, and the odds are in his favor to score in a third straight match for Werder Bremen.
