Ligue 2 betting tip: Sochaux- Olympique Nimes
Ligue 2: Sochaux- Olympique Nimes
The home side are without Jean-Charles Castelletto, Ronald Zubar, and Pierrick Cros (two players with that name btw, other is a back up keeper), they are all centre backs and that leaves Red Star very short handed today. They have named four "defenders", two right backs, a CD who has not played since December and made only 8 starts in the last two seasons and a defensive midfielder who is 35 yo, was brought in as a free agent and has played 130 minutes at tier 3 this season ! That is not good enough, this looks a fantastic opportunity for the visitors and I expect them to win.
BEBP had conceded three goals inside 13 minutes at BOTH Niort and Le Havre and gave up two each to the two "worst" teams in L2, they look vulnerable defensively and there should be goals in this for Nimes, who, as regular readers know, are one of my favourites and very well suited to playing on the road, where they have collected 24 of their 39 points this season.
My notes on their last away win are reproduced below the "good luck" sign off in full, they won 2-1 at highflying Amiens that day, but it is their last two starts, draws at Troyes and home to Gazelec we are probably better off talking about. They played well enough in both, dominating attempts, possession , corners, completed passes and did not allow Troyes, whom I also rate highly, a single attempt on target on home soil. ON also had a huge 65 crosses from open play in those two games, now crosses are a much maligned stat IMO and we could argue all morning, I have absolutely no intention of doing so, so please do not write, about their value or otherwise, but we, by which I mean "I" can discuss these more at some future stage, Suffice to say that I think they are far more relevant than some analysis consensus in recent years might have us believe, especially, when, like in this case, they are such a dominating stat.
I "know" Nimes are good, my numbers say top 2 and I have to side with them as strongly as possible today, time for an about turn in thinking...... "crosses are the new high/wide press " !
They won that 1-0 , the points took them into 6th and within four points of an automatic promotion place and with their next five starts against teams currently 10th or lower in the table, they have a real opportunity to kick on and put some pressure on the five above them. The time is right, they know that Sofiane Alakouch and one or two others will not be here much longer, unless they reach Ligue 1, they are very offensive minded and it should be three points or bust from here on in.
BTW, in case I forget, they look to have unearthed an absolute gem in 18 yo right back Sofiane Alakouch (Brentford are you listening ?) Nimes are unbeaten in all ten starts the youngster has made ( six wins) and just those (two) handful of starts into his professional career, he looks the real deal. Nimes know how good he is and are already said to have offered him a four year contract (which I do not believe he has signed) and refuse to let him talk to the media at present, but he will not be unknown for long and this is starting to look like a very talented group of players at L2 level.
Sochaux : Maxence Prévot, Christopher Dilo - Florent Ogier, Mickaël Alphonse, Adolphe Teikeu, Ibrahima Konaté, Jason Pendant, Florian Tardieu, Marco Ilaimaharitra, Florian Martin, Florin Bérenguer, Mohamed Larbi, Yoann Touzghar, Moussa Sao, Faneva Andriatsima, Marcus Thuram.
Nimes : Yan Marillat, Martin Sourzac, Lucas Dias, Gaël Angoula, Gaëtan Paquiez, Fabien Garcia, Anthony Briançon, Zié Diabaté - Florian Fabre, Téji Savanier, Ousmane Cissokho, Théo Valls, Larry Azouni - Renaud Ripart, Christian Kouakou, Sada Thioub, Karim Ait Fana.
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