Earlier this season, both teams played a 3-3 draw in Bordeaux. Can we expect such a spectacle on Saturday evening?
Nimes Olympique:
PhD student Nîmes Olympique went down in the last round for the fourth consecutive away game. After defeats at Paris Saint-Germain, Amiens and AS Saint-Étienne, Olympique Marseille was too strong for the current number ten of the Ligue 1 last week. However, in the final phase it seemed that the PhD student would grab a point, because both in the 82nd minute as in injury time, Bernard Blaquart’s team received a penalty. The first penalty kick was used by Téji Savanier, but the second ping was not given after the intervention of the VAR, as a result of which Nîmes Olympique suffered another defeat after two victories.
Now that the end of the season is approaching, the doctoral student can look back on a successful return to Ligue 1. The number two of last season’s Ligue 2 manages to entertain the fans almost weekly and have already scored 47 times in 32 matches (an average of 1.47 goals per match), but received the same number of hits. With only four defeats in sixteen home games this season (against Lille, Olympique Nice, Paris Saint-Germain and Toulouse), the doctoral candidate seems to be the favorite for this match against the number six of the previous season.
Girondins de Bordeaux:
On a visit to AS Saint-Étienne, Girondins de Bordeaux survived the first half through some excellent saves by Benoît Costil, but in the second half the French goalkeeper had to surrender three times. Because the only shot on goal by Girondins de Bordeaux did not lead to a goal in the entire match, the Girondines lost 3-0 and the team of Pedro Sousa has now dropped to thirteenth place. The Portuguese trainer indicated at the time of his appointment that he would like to clean his team in the summer, but as it stands now, that means that half the selection can be replaced.
Last season, the Girondines achieved sixth place in the Ligue 1 with the help of Brazilian Malcom Filipe Silva de Oliveira with a total of 53 goals, of which Malcom was directly involved in nineteen (twelve goals, seven assists), but this season only thirty times scored in 32 games so far. With an average of 0.46 goals per game less scored and admittedly with an average of 0.26 fewer goals per game, the Girondines are net behind this season by an average of 0.2 hits per game and that costs so far no less than seven places in the rankings.
PREDICTION: Under 2,5 goals @ 1,68
