Handicap cover is real?!
2022-09-10
分享比赛
Lens have moved on from last season's remarkable seventh-place finish, and are one of just four Ligue 1 teams to enter the round unblemished (W4, D2). Their 1-1 draw against Reims last week extended their unbeaten top-flight run to 14 games (W9, D5), and they are on track to break the club's unbeaten streak of 19 games achieved in 2005/06. With such a start, Lens appears to be on their way to their first European qualifying since 2007, and are obvious pre-match favorites to secure a fourth consecutive home win - a result that would leave them top of the league until mid-Saturday. They've also demonstrated their ability to handle expectations in recent months, winning 63% of home league matches and entering as the bookies' selection since the start of last season (W12, D4, L3). Troyes have recovered slightly after losing their first three league games, picking five points in the next three rounds (W2, D1), bookended by a 1-1 home draw against Rennes at the weekend. On Sunday, coach Bruno Irles emphasized his players' "solidarity" after his side played nearly 60 minutes with 10 men against eleven in that draw, and maintaining that tenacious attitude will be critical to avoiding relegation. Despite a huge 4-2 win at Monaco on their last road trip, a win here is doubtful, especially given that ESTAC hasn't won back-to-back away Ligue 1 games since 2001! Not only that, but the fact that 2001 was their last competitive triumph at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis is a gloomy portent (D4, L9, since). However this game ends, I believe Troyes have the capability to avoid defeat. Even if they lost, 1.5 handicap seems very valuable! And therefore, I will take advantage of these good odds!
