French Ligue 1 Opta Facts - 30-31 October

Statistics and facts to help your football betting are available every week at Sta Sam Ti Reko courtesy of Opta Sportsdata, Europe's leading provider of sports performance statistics.

Auxerre - Nice

• Auxerre have won none of their last seven home league games, drawing six and losing one, their longest-ever winless run at the Abbe-Deschamps stadium.
• Auxerre won both of their matches against Nice last season, keeping a clean sheet in the process.
• Nice have scored just one goal in their last five trips to Auxerre in the league.
• Nice have failed to score in their last three away games in the league.
• Auxerre have scored more first-half goals than any other team this season in Ligue 1 (nine).
• Nice are one of two teams who have managed to win a game despite being on the losing time at half-time this season in Ligue 1.
• No Nice player has scored more than two goals this season in Ligue 1.

Brest - St Etienne

• Brest are one of two unbeaten teams at home this season in the league.
• St Etienne are unbeaten in their last four Ligue 1 meetings against Brest, three wins and one draw.
• St Etienne are the last team to defeat Brest at the Francis-le-Ble stadium in the top flight, on 10^th May 1991.
• St Etienne have failed to win their last three matches in the league, their longest winless run this season.
• Brest have conceded the fewest goals this season in Ligue 1 (four), they have kept a clean sheet in the least seven match days, the longest run by any Ligue 1 team since 2002/03 (Guingamp).
• The four Ligue 1 games played at the Francis-le-Ble stadium have produced a league-low three goals.
• St Etienne have scored in nine league matches this term, only title-holders Marseille have scored in more games.

Caen - Nancy

• Caen have failed to score in their last three home games in Ligue 1.
• Nancy have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last seven away games in the top flight.
• Nancy are unbeaten in their last five league encounters against Caen, winning two and drawing three.
• Eight of the 11 points picked up by Nancy have been collected on the road, which amounts to 72%, the highest ratio in Ligue 1.
• Nancy have not won a penalty in any of their last 32 Ligue 1 games, currently the longest run.
• Youssef El Arabi has scored Caen's last four goals in the league.
• Julien Feret has either scored or assisted 60% of Nancy's goals this season (three goals and three assists).

Lorient - Arles-Avignon

• Lorient have won 2-1 their last two home games in Ligue 1.
• Lorient have conceded exactly one goal in each of their last five Ligue 1 fixtures.
• Arles-Avignon have drawn their last two league games (against Brest and Lyon).
• Franck Dja Djedje has scored a record 75% of his team's goals this season in the league.
• Arles-Avignon have yet to score more than one goal in a Ligue 1 game.
• Arles-Avignon have scored the fewest goals his season in Ligue 1 (four) and conceded the most (21).
• Faruk Hadzibegic has never won an away match as a Ligue 1 manager: four draws and 13 defeats.

Lyon - Sochaux

• Sochaux have won just one of their last 15 league meetings against Lyon, however it happened in their last trip to the Gerland stadium, a 2-0 victory in 2009/10.
• Sochaux are the only Ligue 1 side who have lost all of their away matches this season, they have conceded at least two goals in all four fixtures.
• No visiting team has managed to score more than one goal at the Gerland stadium this calendar year in Ligue 1.
• Michel Bastos has netted four goals against Sochaux in Ligue 1, more than versus any other club.
• Jimmy Briand has either scored or assisted 55% of Lyon goals this season in the top flight (three goals and three assists).

Toulouse - Lens

• Toulouse have failed to win their last three home games in Ligue 1, drawing one and losing two.
• 10 of the 13 Toulouse goals this season in Ligue 1 have been netted in the last 30 minutes of their games.
• Daniel Braaten is the only Toulouse player who has managed to score in the first half (three goals).
• Lens have failed to win their last three away games in Ligue 1, drawing one and losing two.
• Lens are the only Ligue 1 side who have yet to score a first-half goal.
• Three Lens goals have been scored by substitutes (Issam Jemaa twice and David Pollet once), only Sochaux currently register as many.

Marseille - Rennes

• Rennes top the league with just 19 points after 10 match days, no leader had registered such a low points-tally at this stage of the competition since Bastia in 2000.
• Marseille have won 13 of their 16 home games in the league this calendar year and they scored in all 16.
• Rennes have picked up only one point from their last nine trips to Marseille in Ligue 1.
• Marseille have scored a league-high 18 goals this term.
• Rennes are the only side who have yet to lose on the road this season in Ligue 1.
• Marseille have scored 12 goals in their last four league encounters against Rennes.
• Frederic Antonetti has lost seven of his nine trips to Marseille as a Ligue 1 manager.
• Rennes have failed to win any of their three Ligue 1 games without striker Victor Montano.
• Andre-Pierre Gignac is the Ligue 1 player with most matches played this season, without ever losing: eight.
• 33% of the goals netted by Rennes have come from defenders (four out of 12), the highest ratio this season in Ligue 1.

Monaco - Bordeaux

• Bordeaux are unbeaten in their last 12 league meetings against Monaco, winning eight and drawing four, keeping a clean sheet in the last three.
• Monaco have scored just two goals at the Louis II stadium this season in the league, only Arles-Avignon have netted fewer goals at home.
• Monaco have failed to score in the last three league games, currently the longest run without finding the net.
• Jean Tigana has never lost against Guy Lacombe as a Ligue 1 manager (three wins and three draws).
• Bordeaux striker Moussa Maazou has scored in each of his last three league appearances at the Louis II stadium, all three as a Monaco player.
• All seven Monaco goals this season have been netted by foreign internationals.

Valenciennes - Lille

• Valenciennes are unbeaten in their last seven home Northern derbies in the league, winning four and drawing two.
• The away side has failed to score in the last six league meetings between these two sides.
• Lille have failed to score in their last three trips to Valenciennes in Ligue 1, losing the last two.
• Lille have conceded three goals in two consecutive Ligue 1 games for the first time since September 2006.
• Valenciennes have yet to keep a clean sheet at home this season in the league.
• Gregory Pujol has netted five goals this season in Ligue 1; his best-ever tally at this stage of the competition.
• Strike partnership Gervinho (four goals) and Moussa Sow (five goals) have scored 69% of Lille goals this season in Ligue 1.

Montpellier - Paris SG

• PSG have failed to win any of their last five competitive trips to the Mosson stadium, drawing three and losing two.
• Paris SG have won two consecutive away league games for the first time since December 2007.
• 78% of the goals conceded by PSG this season in Ligue 1 have come before the half-time break, the highest percentage in the league.
• Nenê has scored six goals in his nine Ligue 1 appearances this season (0.7 per game); the Brazilian winger has netted more goals in October than any other month during his Ligue 1 career (seven).
• Montpellier and Paris SG have both registered keep six clean sheets this season in the league, only Brest have managed more.

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Tiket 27-10-2010.

Aachen - Mainz                      : 2  @ 1.98 10bet.com
Frankfurt (AH 0) - Hamburg      : 1 @ 2.10 Bet365.com
Catania (AH -0,75) - Varese     : 1 @ 1.87 10bet.com

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27-10-2010 20:45 Olympique Lyonnais - Paris Saint Germain

Other Priorities
 
Olympique Lyonnais seemed to be over the worst of their form prior to the weekend. Claude Puel’s side, who were at one stage lingering in the Ligue 1 drop zone, successfully picked up five wins on the trot in all competitions and moved to Arles-Avignon with the expectation of making it six. Against Le Championnat’s bottom side, who had previously picked up just one point this season, OL stumbled to a 1-1 draw.

Once again the pressure has mounted on general manager Claude Puel, who has been under intense scrutiny in the Rhone Valley since the beginning of the season. President Jean-Michel Aulas is set to disclose the former Lille boss’ future after Wednesday evening’s match, so the coach is very much drinking in the last chance saloon.

It may well be that Aulas already has his mind made up. Not a president who likes to sack generals – he has done so only once in his near two-and-a-half-decade long stint in charge of les Gones – it’s likely that OL’s recent resurgence will be enough to keep Puel in a job. Aulas has already proclaimed that he sees the Coupe de la Ligue as an irritant that congests the fixture calendar more than anything else, so even a defeat may not see the end of the defensively-minded manager.

With commitments in the Champions League ahead, as well as a struggle to get back into Ligue 1’s top three, Lyon will not see this match as essential, though against old adversaries PSG, they won’t want to give anything up cheaply.

Unbeaten Run Broken

Paris Saint-Germain are considered one of France’s great sleeping giants. Possessing a catchment like no other in the European game given that PSG are essentially the only major club in one of the continent’s biggest cities, the fact they have not win the league title since 1994 is quite remarkable. They are, however, generally good in the Coupe de la Ligue, claiming the competition three times since it began in the year of their last Ligue 1 title victory.

Poor organisation at boardroom level has been a major impediment for the growth of PSG as a club, though under Robin Leproux steps are being taken to improve this, even if it means angering the club’s core support, many of whom are boycotting fixtures due to the hard-line measures taken by the president to give les Rouge et Bleu a more family friendly image.

On the field, Antoine Kombouare is doing a good job with the side. A disappointing 13th placed finish last term could have been grounds for the sack, but the coach led the club to a Coupe de France success that may have saved his bacon.

Few mistakes are being made this term. The addition of Nene has been a massive plus for the capital side, and the Brazilian played a starring role in PSG’s eight-match unbeaten run in all competitions that only came to an end against Auxerre on Sunday.

Kombouare refused to be too downbeat about the outcome, blaming a poor 20 minute spell for the loss. Indeed, he confidently predicted that les Parisiens can bounce back at the Stade Gerland on Wednesday evening.

TEAM NEWS

Lyon

Claude Puel goes into this match with a depleted squad. Ederson, Joan Hartock and Cesar Delgado are long-term problems, while they have been recently joined on the sidelines by Jeremy Toulalan and Aly Cissokho.

Midfielder Kim Kallstrom may well be deployed at left-back in a heavily reshuffled side as Cissokho’s understudy, Timothee Kolodziejczak is suspended following a red card with the reserves. Hugo Lloris will definitely be rested, allowing Remy Vercoutre a rare chance to shine in goal.

PSG

Antoine Kombouare is set to rotate his side significantly; probably more so than he would for a Europa League fixture. He doesn’t have too many injury issues, with Ceara and Jean-Eudes Maurice still the only players sidelined.

Prediction

Much depends on the strength of the squads deployed by the respective coaches, but PSG are a side with a massive amount of confidence and are in the mood to create a shock result. If Lyon are not on their mettle, it would be little surprise to see les Parisiens steal the win, but in front of a baying home crowd, there will be an incentive for the OL XI to be at their best.

O. Lyon 1-2 PSG

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27-10-2010 20:45 West Ham United - Stoke City

Hammers looking to ease pressure on Grant

West Ham will be hoping to progress to the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup in order to ease the pressure on Avram Grant.

The Israeli manager has suffered a disastrous start to the season and it looks as if his side could well be embroiled in a relegation battle this season.

The Hammers were poor in their last Premier League game, slipping to a 2-1 defeat at home to Newcastle United. Striker Andy Carroll's aerial presence caused the shakey Hammers defence problems during the game and there is no doubt that Tony Pulis will have taken note of this.

West Ham will reach the quarter-finals for only the second time since 1999 if they beat Stoke at Upton Park this Wednesday.

London holds no fear for Potters

Stoke will travel to Upton Park this Wednesday evening, knowing that they have a good record in the capital city. Three of their four away victories last season came in London - with wins at Tottenham, Fulham and at West Ham themselves.

This is the third successive season that the Potters have reached the fourth stage of the League Cup - before that they went out in the first or second round for seven years in a row.

The Potters won the League Cup for the only time back in 1972 but their victory in this years' third round against Fulham was the first time they have beaten a top-flight side in the League Cup in 10 years.

TEAM NEWS

West Ham United

Manager Avram Grant will wait to assess the fitness of centre-half Matthew Upson after he was forced off in their defeat to Newcastle with a hamstring problem.

Striker Frederic Piquionne could also miss the game after picking up a knock in the same game.

Defender Lars Jacobsen will definitely miss Wednesday's clash with Stoke as he is cup-tied after featuring for Blackburn Rovers in their second-round victory over Norwich City.

Grant is still without long-term absentees Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh), Jack Collison, Zavon Hines, and Peter Kurucz (all knee).

Possible Starting XI: Stech; Faubert, Tomkins, Da Costa, Ben Haim; Barrera, Noble, Parker, Boa Morte; Obinna, McCarthy.

Stoke City

Potters' boss Tony Pulis has midfielder Dean Whitehead available after serving a one match suspension.

Striker Tuncay is expected to be recalled to the starting eleven after his sensational strike to equalise against Manchester United after coming on as a substitute last Sunday.

New signing Marc Wilson is unavailable after playing for Portsmouth in an earlier round of the competition and Pulis will also check on Matthew Etherington and Danny Collins - who both picked up slight knocks in the 2-1 loss to United.

Pulis has admitted he will make a few changes with both Eidur Gudjohnsen and Danny Higginbothom expected to start the game.

Possible Starting XI: Begovic; Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Higginbotham; Whitehead, Whelan, Diao, Tuncay; Gudjohnsen, Walters.

Prediction

West Ham 0-1 Stoke

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27-10-2010 20:45 Aston Villa - Burnley

Houllier looking for League Cup hat-trick
New Villa boss Gerard Houllier lifted the League Cup twice as manager of Liverpool so clearly knows how to succeed in the knockout format.

However, after winning his first two games in charge at Villa, Houllier's side have slipped and are without a victory in their last three games.

Despite inheriting a team that boasts attacking flair in the shape of Ashley Young and Stewart Downing, Villa are without a goal in their last 254 minutes of football - so will be looking to turn the corner in Wedneday's match.

Unlike their opponents, Villa have won the competiton five times and were runners-up last season — when they lost out in the final to Premier League runners-up Manchester United.

First of three crucial away games for the Clarets
Wednesday's fixture at Villa Park is the first of three away games for promotion chasing Burnley. Their next league match is against high-flying QPR on Saturday and they then travel to Norwich for another tricky away tie.

The Clarets' faithful have cause for concern after seeing their side claim just two victories in their last eight Championship matches.

A 4-0 loss to Reading last weekend has left fans nervous about their promotion aspirations and springing a surprise at Villa Park would certainly send them into their next two fixtures with confidence.

Burnley have never won the League Cup but have reached the semi-finals four times in their history — most recently in 2008-09 when they lost to Tottenham.

TEAM NEWS
Aston Villa
Aston Villa are without their captain Stiliyan Petrov for the Carling Cup  clash after manager Gerard Houllier revealed the midfielder needs surgery on the knee injury that he picked up against Sunderland. Petrov is expected to be out of action for at least two months.

Villa are also without the injured Luke Young and Gabby Agbonlahor - who are both yet to return to full training.

Second choice 'keeper Brad Guzan will almost certainly replace fellow American Brad Friedel in goal, with both Emile Heskey and John Carew expected to feature in a side that will mix youth with experience.

Possible Starting XI: Guzan; Lichaj, Cuellar, Clark, Warnock; Albrighton, Reo-Coker, Sidwell, Bannan; A Young; Carew

Burnley

Burnley manager Brian Laws is without centre-half Leon Cort, who is unavailable after his sending off in last weekend's defeat to Reading.

Laws could choose to replace Cort with veteran defender Clarke Carlisle who himself returns from suspension.

Other players such as Steven Thompson, Ross Wallace and Brian Easton may also come into the side, as manager Laws has hinted that he will use his squad players for the game at Villa Park.

"We have got a good squad of players and those who have not been in the side will be looking at this as a window of opportunity to go and play," Laws told the club's official website.

Possible Starting XI: Grant; Mears, Fox, Carlisle, Bikey; Alexander, Cork, Elliot; Rodriguez, Iwelumo, Eagles.

Prediction

Aston Villa 3-2 Burnley

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