Sacramento Kings
Weekend Parlay: Both Teams to Score in Marseille vs Monaco
There are plenty of intriguing matchups in Ligue 1 that are worth considering in your soccer betting picks: Paris Saint-Germain will host Brest on Sunday in a battle between the two most in-form sides in France whilst two Europa League sides will face off in Toulouse’s upcoming home match against Lens. Saturday’s marquee matchup will see Monaco travel to the Velodrome and take on Marseille, and there are plenty of potential avenues for Ligue 1 betting connoisseurs to find value here.
There’s a reason why the Las Vegas sportsbooks are backing both teams to score at -165. Whilst AS Monaco have enjoyed a strong start to the campaign under Adi Hutter, who took charge in the summer, keeping things tight at the back hasn’t exactly been their forte. Even with Takumi Minamino away at the Asian Cup, Monaco have more than enough weapons to get on the score sheet between Folarin Balogun, Maghnes Akliouche and Aleksandr Golovin.
Since the November international break, the principality side have scored at least two goals in six matches, with the only exceptions coming in a 1-0 loss to Lyon on Dec. 15 and a 3-1 loss to Reims on Jan. 13. They were able to bounce back in style, thrashing lower-tier Rodez 3-1 and booking their ticket for the Coupe de France Round of 16.
Apart from their defeat to Lyon, each of their last five matches has seen both Monaco and their opponent find the back of the net whilst four of Marseille’s last five matches have seen both teams score as well. Indeed, each of their last three fixtures against Ligue 1 sides has resulted in a 1-1 draw, with Rennes eliminating them on penalties midweek in the cup.
There’s reason to believe that this pattern will continue against a Monaco side that has the second-best attack in Ligue 1 (34 goals scored after 18) and has conceded 25 goals. Outside of the bottom four, only 13th-placed Nantes (30) have conceded more.
Wissam Ben Yedder is a surefire addition to your player prop bets, having scored seven goals in his last four matches, including a hat trick against Rodez. I’m backing him to find the back of the net for the fifth straight match and become the second player to reach double figures in Ligue 1 after Kylian Mbappe.
I’m also backing this one to be a high-scoring affair. Both teams have scored in each of their last three encounters, with two of their last three featuring a 3-2 scoreline, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see something similar at the Velodrome.
Soccer Pick: Both Teams to Score – Yes (-165)
Goals Galore in Taça da Liga Final
Since the introduction of the Taça da Liga in 2007-08, all but one final has featured at least one of Portugal’s Big Three (Benfica, Porto, Sporting), with Moreirense edging Braga in 2017. That will change on Saturday as Braga face off against Estoril Praia in the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa.
Whilst Braga enter the match as the overwhelming favorites at -208 and will be looking to win their third Taça after claiming it in 2013 and 2020, Estoril are in uncharted territory, having reached the final for the first time ever after edging Benfica on penalties. There are more than a few reasons to include this matchup in your weekend parlays in what promises to be an eye-catching affair in Leiria.
Both teams have grown accustomed to high-scoring fixtures. Whilst Braga have scored 42 goals in 18 matches, the second-highest tally after Sporting (45), they have let in 26 goals – the worst in the Primeira Liga’s top eight. We’ve seen quite a few shootouts involving Braga, from a 3-2 loss to Benfica in the Taça de Portugal on Jan. 10 to a 3-1 win at Casa Pia on Dec. 30, and I’m expecting that trend to continue.
Their last two fixtures against Estoril have seen them win 4-1 and 3-1. Even with Primeira Liga top scorer Simon Banza away at AFCON, they have more than enough weapons up front to cause Estoril some issues between Alvaro Djalo to Rodrigo Zalazar to Ricardo Horta to Abel Ruíiz, who came off the bench and grabbed the winner in Braga’s 1-0 win against Sporting in the Taça semifinals.
Abel Ruíz squandered a last-second penalty in the U-21 Euros Final, with James Trafford saving his effort to secure a 1-0 win for England.
Since then, he’s lost his place in the Braga side and scored just one league goal, as well as a goal vs. Panathinaikos in the CL qualifiers.
— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) January 24, 2024
Estoril are very much a team that lives by the sword and dies by the sword. After closing out 2023 with a 1-1 draw at Famalicão sandwiched between back-to-back 4-0 victories at home, they kicked off the new year with a 5-1 loss at Sporting, followed up with a 4-0 defeat to Porto in the Taça de Portugal before losing 3-1 to Moreirense and 2-1 to Arouca. Whilst they have enjoyed a resurgence under new manager Vasco Seabra, they have struggled to keep clean sheets recently and find themselves one point above the relegation playoff spot.
Estoril have scored 32 goals, behind only Braga, Benfica and Sporting, but their 34 goals conceded is only surpassed by Portimonense (34) and last-place Chaves (44). They are playing with house money at this point, and they know that they have to play attack-minded, aggressive football in order to have a chance of getting something from this game.
Backing this one to be a high-scoring affair is a no-brainer, with the betting lines set at -123 for over three goals.
Soccer Pick: Over 3 goals (-123)
Questions Of The Day
Which player is likely to score in Ligue 1 this weekend?
Monaco captain Wissam Ben Yedder is hitting his stride at the moment, and the odds are in his favor as he looks to grab another goal vs. Marseille.
What’s the best player prop bet in Portugal?
Rafik Guitane has found the back of the net in each of his last two matches for Estoril, and I’m backing him to rise to the occasion in the biggest game of his career.
