Monaco vs Bastia
French Ligue 1
Date: Saturday, 3rd December 2016
Kick off at 19:00 UK Time
Venue: Stade Louis II, Monaco.
Monaco will start long odds-on favourites against Bastia in Ligue 1 on Saturday, as they bid to return to winning ways after drawing with Dijon in midweek.
Les Rouges et Blancs were coasting towards an expected victory at Stade Gaston Gerrard following Guido Carrillo’s 17th minute strike. However, a late equaliser from Frederic Sammaritano meant things finished all square – and the result will definitely have been viewed as two points dropped by boss Leonardo Jardim.
Monaco were on a run of three consecutive wins heading into round 15 after swatting aside Lorient, Marseille and Nancy 3-0, 4-0 and 6-0 respectively in recent weeks and despite the disappointing outcome on Tuesday night, the seven times French champions sit 3rd in the table and just three points behind leaders Nice ahead of Bastia’s visit to Stade Louis II.
Monaco’s mini setback certainly hasn’t deterred the bookmakers and Jardim’s side are 4/11 to claim their 11th win of the domestic campaign on Saturday night.
Overall it’s easy to see why. Monaco have won six and drawn one of their seven Ligue 1 outings at Stade Louis II in 2016/17, scoring a remarkable 26 goals in the process – a tally obviously bolstered by those aforementioned recent results.
Midweek scorer Carrillo is on fire at the moment and has six goals to his name; however, the most impressive attribute Monaco possess is their ability to score throughout the team. Fabinho, Falcao, Valerie Germain and Thomas Lemar have all waded in with five goals each and 16th placed Bastia will undoubtedly have their work cut out for the majority of the game.
Bastia have only conceded nine goals on the road so far this season but have lost five of their seven away matches – making them impossible to fancy here.
The Corsicans have drawn their last three Ligue 1 fixtures against Montpellier, Nice and Bordeaux which is a definite improvement on their early season form. However, the trip to Monaco this weekend just looks a step too far at this point for Francois Ciccolini’s limited side.
The 4/11 on offer for the Monaco here will appeal to many as an accumulator inclusion, though for singles backers we strongly recommend investing in the hosts to cover a one goal handicap at 10/11.
In terms of the correct score, we think Jardim’s side could inflict a bit of a backlash on the visitors after their midweek draw so 4-0 really appeals at 12/1.
Monaco vs Bastia: Head to Head Stats
Home or away Monaco are completely dominant winning the last 8 fixtures between these two. Bastia has not beaten Monaco in 14 years and that was at their ground. In Monaco’s last three wins at Stade Louis II they have kept a clean sheet against Bastia.
Monaco vs Bastia: Prediction
Sure there are shocks in football and there will be this week around Europe, but to even think that is possible here would require a wild imagination. Monaco have been superb at home with just the odd slip up away. But Monaco are scoring many goals too, this is the sign of a great team who are about to meet Bastia who have no wins in nearly two months.
Monaco vs Bastia: Betting Tips
Monaco to score at least 3 goals at 11/8 (2.38)
Half Time/Full Time- Monaco, Monaco at 1/1 (2.00)
Any-time goal scorer – Guido Carillio (Monaco) at 6/4 (2.50).
