Rodez Aveyron
Rodez Aveyron are undefeated in 5 matches (W2, D3), including their last 2 home games (W1, D1).
Red Star 93 Saint Ouen
- Red Star 93 Saint Ouen have won 2 of their last 5 matches (D2, L1) and 2 of their last 3 away games (D1).
- Red Star are flying high in 2nd place with 36 points from 20 games, while Rodez Aveyron are a solid mid-table side in 11th with 26 points from the same number of matches.
Head-to-Head
- This fixture is an interesting tactical matchup between a pragmatic, structure-first 3-5-2 system instilled by Didier Santini at Rodez and Gregory Poirier’s more pro-active, possession-based approach at Red Star.
- Rodez are compact and tough to break down, with their 3 at the back system allowing them to overload the wings with their wing-backs and launch counterattacks at pace when the ball is won back.
- Red Star will have other ideas, however, and their preferred 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 is designed to control games in the middle third and press with intensity when out of possession.
- The visitors can switch the tempo with a flurry of offensive action when they win the ball back and their recent away form, taking 2 wins from their last 3 away games, suggests they can match Rodez for tempo.
- The bookmakers don’t see much to separate the sides either, making both teams 2.62 favorites, and the matchup history certainly backs that up as Red Star have won 1 and drawn 2 of the 3 previous Ligue 2 meetings between the two teams with Rodez yet to taste victory.
Key Players
- Rodez’s Ibrahima Balde is the top scorer for the home side with 7 goals in 19 Ligue 2 matches, 4 of which have come in his last 5 appearances.
- Evans Jean-Lambert has also been a key player for the hosts recently, providing 4 assists in Rodez’s last 5 games during which they have scored 9 times.
- Red Star are led in the goals by Damien Durand, who has 9 goals in 20 Ligue 2 games, making him a great value bet in the scorer markets.
Betting Insights
BTTS is coming in at the 2.0 mark, which looks extremely generous when you consider Rodez have scored 9 in their last 5 games and Red Star have been scoring regularly.
Prediction
Given the recent form of both clubs, we’re expecting a tight contest that could go either way in terms of the final score, although we’re giving Red Star the edge for a 2-1 away win due to their superior quality and superior away record.
