
Match Preview
Metz can go outright clear at the top of the table by three points tonight if they win. I expect them to prevail but it might not be as easy compared to what some think. Metz have been a bit sluggish in recent weeks, losing at home to Auxerre and then only labouring to a 2-1 win vs Chateauroux despite playing against 10 men for over 75 mins. Despite all this, they remain the top side in the division, along with Brest and should show their quality here. The Metz squad is at full strength and they’ll be pleased to have this game on a Monday night, hence giving them extra preparation of the back of an international break. Perhaps it’s a slight concern that they’ve lost 2 of their last 3 home games by a 0-1 scoreline, but Le Havre and Auxerre do have quality squads on paper and tough defences on a good day.
GFCA Ajaccio don't really have that luxury and they certainly don’t have a defensive minded manager any more. If Albert Cartier was still in charge of GFCA then we could expect them to totally park the bus here but new head coach Herve Della Maggiore is a much more ambitious animal. For anyone who was familiar with his Bourg-en-Bresse teams in recent years it was quite refreshing to see such a positive, if at times cavalier approach. Already since taking over at the helm, 3 out of 4 GFCA matches have ended over 2.5 goals, and this is no coincidence. Maggiore has won his last two games 2-1 and whilst a victory tonight would be a big shock, I don't think he will come here and be timid. Therefore, I think the best bet for the match is over 2.5 goals. Metz -1.25 could also cover, but I am convinced GFCA can be threat tonight and at least score a goal, in which case you’d need Metz to net three times in order to cover the handicap. So I’m siding with the over 2.5 line and anticipate quite a decent, open game of football.
Prediction: 2-1
Recommended bet: Over 2.5 goals @1.90
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRRigutGiU9S3juX_NEf-WcapAiqkN8xgEIX4TmeHUc1_ENLzjLmVen8Hs_76NlcTLCrhAkcItLCeo0/pubhtml?gid=366498067&single=true