Saint-Etienne vs Dijon
French Ligue 1
Date: Sunday, 16th October 2016
Kick-Off at 16:00 BST
Venue: Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne.
Saint-Etienne could move into the top 4 with victory over Dijon on Sunday, but the visitors wont go down without a fight. Just 4 points separate the pair ahead of kick-off, but with the home side looking strong in their own back yard and Dijon struggling on the road, it really should be a routine victory for Saint-Etienne this weekend. SkyBet are backing the home side to win this match at 7/10, with a draw at 6/2 and what seems like an unlikely victory for the visitors at 9/2. Despite there being little between the two clubs in the league and current form, I can’t argue with those odds as I have the hosts down as strong favourites to take all 3 points myself.
PREDICTION
Both sides have long injury lists to deal with, but each will be hoping that at least a couple of players have recovered during the international break. M’Bengue, Polomat, Pierre-Gabriel, Hamouma and Lemoine will have to pass late fitness tests for the hosts if they are to make it into the match day squad on Sunday. The same goes for Belmonte, Bouka Moutou, Amalfitano, Tavares, Martin and Rosier for Dijon, who already have the weaker of the two squads and I feel could struggle with so many potential first teamers missing. The hosts head into the game as the form favourites with two wins, three draws and one defeat from their last six matches, but the visitors aren’t too far behind with one less draw and an extra defeat to their name. Berič leads the way with 3 league goals this season for Saint-Etienne, while Diony has the same tally for Dijon and each represent the most likely first goalscorer for the two sides. I’m putting my money on the home side winning this game and keeping a clean sheet in the process, but the game should be tight and I expect under 2.5 goals to be scored.
Saint-Etienne vs Dijon: Head to Head Statistics
Both teams have only met few times, they have played just 3 games in the past.
Saint-Etienne have won 2 of their 3 games against Dijon and lost 1.
The two teams last played against each other in 2011/2012 Ligue 1 season.
Saint-Etienne vs Dijon: Prediction
Saint-Etienne are in a better form than their visitors in their recent games, with 2 wins 2 draws and a defeat in their last 5 games. They need to start converting their draws into win as they have drawn 6 of their last 9 games in all competitions.
Dijon have won just once in their last 5, they have drawn 2 and lost 2. Their defense seems a weak, they have conceded a total of 9 goals in their last 5 games and scored 7. Furthermore, they have lost all their away games this season.
Saint-Etienne vs Dijon: Tips
Saint-Etinne to Win at 1.75 (3/4)
Over 2.5 goals at 2.15 (8/7).
