Home and Away: Back Bastia in what is a must win game for the Corsicans

 

There's a distinctly French theme to today's Home and Away picks, as Jonno Turner previews the final round of games of the French season...

 

We're off to France for our penultimate pick of the week - and it comes from the National Division, as CA Bastia line up at home to Creteil, desperate needing three points in order to keep their promotion dreams alive.

 

The hosts go into this clash sitting in fourth place in the table, and are just two points behind third placed Frejus St-Raphael, who face a tricky away trip to Red Star.

 

That means that Stephane Rossi's Bastia side have it all to play for here - and five consecutive wins on their own patch will have the Stade d'Erbajolo confident ahead of this final game of the season.

 

And 23 goals smashed in their last nine outings in front of their own fans suggests that the Corsicans are more than capable of punishing their opponents in the final third here.

 

Visitors Creteil have enjoyed an impressive campaign, and already have the title sewn up - which leads me to question their motivation ahead of this away trip.

 

Jean-Luc Vasseur's side have certainly gone off the boil since scooping that silverware, and three losses from their last four on the road indicates that they could struggle here.

 

That makes no clean sheets in 11 for the visitors, and I think that those defensive weaknesses could play into Bastia's hands here, in a game that they must win.

 

Bet 1: CA Bastia (HOME) @ 1.86

 

Staying over the channel now, as Ligue 2 winners Monaco travel to Tours, looking to end a successful season with a bang.

 

Les Rouge et Blancs have swept all before them this campaign - and as above, you could question their motivation due to the fact that they have the trophy in the bag - but recent results suggest that Claudio Ranieri will not let his squad become complacent.

 

And with a big summer planned, and rumoured signings including Victor Valdes and Falcao, the current Monaco squad will be desperate to prove their worth by weighing in with another three points here.

 

Ten outings without a loss on the road suggests that they are good value to do so, and underlines just how dominant they have been in recent months.

 

Tours line up for this clash sitting 10th in the table, and just two wins from their last half a dozen games indicates that inconsistency has been a major issue for them this campaign.

 

Bernard Blaquart's side have managed a solitary win from their last four encounters, and just two goals scored in that six hours of football suggests that perhaps the home side are dreaming of their summer break already.

 

The last time these two sides met, Monaco ran out 4-0 winners - and I expect them to show their quality once again this evening.

 

Bet 2: Monaco (AWAY) @ 2.26

 

Bet HERE

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