Saint-Etienne Vs Troyes
Saint-Etienne Vs Troyes Friday 18 March, 2022 – 20:00 (GMT)
French Ligue 1
Pick: Both Teams to Score
Odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: Bet365
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 15 March 2022)
Preview: Two teams in combative form meet inside Stade Geoffroy-Guichard this Friday, as Saint-Etienne aim to extend their unbeaten home run to four matches at the expense of a visiting Troyes seeking their third Ligue 1 victory on the spin.
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Table of Contents
St Etienne – Les Verts going vertically in Ligue 1?
Despite earning a creditable point from last week’s visit to the champions, Les Verts slipped into the relegation play-off spot courtesy of their 0-0 stalemate away at Lille. In a game of few chances, coach Pascal Dupraz will have been thrilled to see his side restrict LOSC to only one big chance and a modest 1.13 xG. Banking as many clean sheets across their past two Ligue 1 matches (two) as the previous twelve.
There can be no doubt St-Etienne have tightened up defensively. PSG and Strasbourg – first and third for highest Ligue 1 goals this term – are among the only teams across Les Verts’ last eight league games to notch more than once. Contributing to a revival that has seen them suffer one league defeat in seven (W4 D2 L1) and go unbeaten at their Stade Geoffroy-Guichard since mid-January (W2 D1).
Key Stat: Forward Wahib Khazri has found the net in two of St-Etienne’s past three Ligue 1 home games. The Tunisian has scored in more home league games this term (six) than any team-mate.
Troyes – ESTAC not given up on staying up?
Back to back Ligue 1 wins, the latest a hard-fought 1-0 success at home to European aspirants Nantes, has helped put a little daylight between Troyes and the relegation places. Ike Ugbo’s solitary strike – the Englishman’s second since signing on loan in January from Belgian side Genk – last time out has meant a two-point cushion has opened up on 18th-placed St.Etienne, who occupy the relegation play-off.
Having also gone to out-of-sorts Bordeaux and won 2-0 in their latest away outing, Troyes are now unbeaten in three after holding Marseille 1-1 at home at the end of a barren February which saw them incur three losses in five (D2). These include chastening 4-1 and 5-1 scorelines at Rennes and Brest. However, this merely serves to underscore how impressive their recent revival has been under Bruno Irles.
Key Stat: Troyes have now scored in five consecutive Ligue 1 matches – their second longest scoring streak of the season – and have found the net at least once in each of the last six away from home.
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St-Etienne Vs Troyes Betting Advice
This is a hugely important fixture within the context of the Ligue 1 relegation battle. The fact both are in resurgent form only adds to the intrigue. Just two points separate Troyes in 15th from St-Etienne down in 18. And if the gap between them is minimal, we can probably expect the same about Friday night’s scoreline as these are two teams averaging no more than a goal per game this term (St-Etienne 1, Troyes 0.93).
St. Etienne Vs Troyes – Key Facts:
- Troyes have a lot to find if recent meetings are anything to go by, having won only once in eight previous Ligue 1 head-to-head match-ups (W1 D1 L6).
- In all competitions, three of the past four meetings between the sides has produced both teams scoring. Meanwhile, only two of the last seven held in St. Etienne didn’t see both teams among the goals.
- All five occasions in which St Etienne were held to a home draw this term were score draws, as was Troyes’ sole away stalemate of 2021/22.
Both teams boast clean sheets in each of their past two Ligue 1 fixtures, potentially hinting towards a low scoring affair at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. Yet this is a ground which has seen Over 2.5 Goals return a winning bet in seven of the last nine encounters here, with three of the past four seeing both team score. With Troyes seeking to score for the seventh away game running, there could be some mileage for BTTS backers.
Best Betting Odds – St-Etienne Vs Troyes
St-Etienne – 21/20 (BetVictor)
Draw – 12/5 (PaddyPower)
Troyes – 14/5 (Bet365)
