Ligue 1 Matchday 38 Odds, Preview: European Places Up for Grabs

European Places Up for Grabs

Paris Saint-Germain’s 1-1 draw vs. Strasbourg on Matchday 37 sealed another Ligue 1 title. PSG are now the Ligue 1 record holders, with 11 trophies. On Matchday 38, the season’s final day, European places are up for grabs. Lille, Monaco, and Rennes compete for two spots in UEFA competitions. Meanwhile, Nantes and Auxerre’s relegation fight goes down to the final day. We’ll look at the Ligue 1 Matchday 38 odds from a big day in French soccer.

Matches of the Week

Nantes need to win vs. Angers on Saturday to escape relegation. Last year’s Coupe de France winners are in 17th place in the Ligue 1 standings and two points behind Auxerre. Even a win may not be enough, should Auxerre win vs. Lens on Saturday.

Nantes started the season in the Europa League and even advanced out of their group. However, they’ve imploded over the last few months and haven’t won a Ligue 1 match since February.

On Saturday, they take on an Angers side that have amassed just 18 points this season and are destined for relegation. Angers did get a win last weekend over Troyes but have conceded over two goals per game this season.

Nantes are 1.5-goal favorites heading into Saturday’s match and show -130 odds to cover. Angers have a bunch of injuries and with nothing to play for, it remains to be seen how many players will sit out as a precautionary measure. Forward Andy Delort is out for Nantes. Meanwhile, Angers +1½ comes in at even odds, and the visitors are +900 underdogs.

Even though Nantes are winless in their last 14 matches, they are -370 favorites for this match. A draw, which would seal Nantes’ relegation, displays +485 odds. Angers haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last seven matches, and over three goals are priced at -120 odds.

Like Angers, Troyes are going down to Ligue 2, no matter their result on Saturday. Their opponents on Saturday, Lille, have everything to play for. If Lille win on the road, they’ll clinch a berth in the Europa League for next season.

Les Dogues have been in excellent form lately and conceded just three goals in their last five matches. On Matchday 37, Lille managed a 2-1 win over Nantes as Jonathan David scored two penalties.

The Ligue 1 Matchday 38 odds price Lille as two-goal road favorites for Saturday’s match. Les Dogues come in at -105 odds to cover the spread. However, they’re on a seven-match winless run on the road vs. Troyes.

Lille’s last win at Troyes came back in 2001. Last weekend, Troyes did lose to last-placed Angers, though. Troyes +2 shows -125 odds, but the hosts are +1000 underdogs. Lille won the reverse fixture, 5-1, as David and Mohamed Bayo scored braces.

Lille are going for European football for a fourth-straight season. A loss could mean they don’t qualify entirely, depending on other results. They are -450 favorites but are just 6-5-7 on the road this season. A draw sits at +575 odds for Saturday’s match, and under 3.5 goals display -120 odds.

Auxerre enter the final day of the season in 16th place. With four teams going down to Ligue 2 this season ahead of Ligue 1’s contraction from 20 to 18 teams, Auxerre are in the relegation picture. If they defeat second-placed Lens on Saturday, they’ll successfully stay in Ligue 1.

A draw or loss would mean their fate depends on Nantes’ result vs. Angers. Lens have already sealed qualification to the Champions League and are on a six-game winning streak.

With much higher stakes for Auxerre, this match is listed as a pick’em. Hosts Auxerre come in at even odds to cover, while Lens pk comes in at -130 odds. Only two teams have scored fewer goals than Auxerre in the Ligue 1 stats this season.

They’re +175 underdogs for the match and are winless in their last six matches. In three of their last five matches, Auxerre have taken a lead but failed to win any of those games.

Lens still had hope of winning the Ligue 1 title until PSG’s draw at Strasbourg last weekend. Whether they’ll take their foot off the gas here remains to be seen. In any case, Lens are +145 favorites and have lost just three times on the road this season. A draw, which will be enough for Auxerre to stay in Ligue 1 unless Nantes wins, displays +250 odds. Lens have averaged over two goals per game over their last five matches, and over 2.5 goals show -135 odds for the match.

With three straight wins, Brest exited the relegation picture and will finish the season in 14th place or higher. Saturday’s opponents, Rennes head into the final matchday in fifth place. They’ll qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League if they stay there. Rennes can finish anywhere from fourth to sixth, which ranges from a Europa League berth to missing out on Europe entirely. So, Rennes will undoubtedly be motivated to get a win on the road here.

Also, Rennes haven’t lost any of their last 12 matches vs. Brest. The Ligue 1 Matchday 38 odds price Rennes as -155 ATS and moneyline favorites. Meanwhile, Brest +0.5 comes in at +125 odds. Although Brest have put together a three-game winning streak, they’re +400 underdogs. Rennes are also on a three-match winning streak and got a crucial win over European competitors Monaco last weekend. Lovro Majer and Amine Gouiri both scored in the 2-0 win.

On their streak, Rennes haven’t conceded a single goal and outscored their opponents 11-0. With both teams scoring plenty of goals, over 2.5 goals sit at -145 odds. A draw would only be enough for Rennes to qualify for Europe if Lille and/or Monaco lose or Monaco draws. One comes in at +310 odds for an important match.

AS Monaco have imploded at the most inopportune time of the season. In the Champions League picture just a few weeks ago, Monaco are in danger of missing out on European football entirely. They’ve lost their last two matches and have only won once in their previous five.

Now, they take on Toulouse on the final matchday needing a win or draw to have any chance of playing in the Conference League or Europa League.

Monaco are on a seven-match unbeaten streak vs. Toulouse and the Monegasques won the reverse fixture, 2-0. The oddsmakers price Monaco as one-goal favorites here.

Monaco -1 comes in at -140 odds but they only have one multi-goal win since the beginning of April. Toulouse, who have drawn their last four matches, show +110 odds to cover the spread.

Even if Monaco win here, they’ll need one of Rennes or Lille to draw or lose to qualify for European competition. The hosts are -210 favorites but have scored just one goal in their last three games. Toulouse are +475 underdogs and have struggled to score since their Coupe de France triumph.

They have found the net just once in their last five games but their defense has also been quite good during that time. They’ve kept three clean sheets in their last five matches as under 3.5 goals sit at -135 odds. A draw is priced at +385 odds as Toulouse are 6-3-9 on the road this season.

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