Monaco have away advantage in Auvergne

Jonno Turner starts a new week with two picks from the continent in his Home and Away column.

We're off to France for our first pick of the day - and third-placed Monaco travel to Clermont in Ligue 2, looking to pile more pressure on the top two.

 

Claudio Ranieri's side have enjoyed a much improved campaign compared to their eighth placed finished last season, and go into this game full of confidence and vigour after nine games unbeaten from 11.

 

Les Rouges et Blanc have lost just one of their last seven league games away from Stade Louis II, and that is exactly the kind of form they will need to maintain if they are to properly challenge for a place amongst the top tier.

 

Ten goals smashed in their last five away from home suggests that Ranieri has an abundance of quality in the final third, and his side will not be short of a goal or two - which will give them a major boost ahead of their trip to the Stade Gabriel Montpied.

 

The hosts have endured an underwhelming few weeks, which has seen them win just one from four outings - and only one of their last half a dozen on their own patch.

 

To make matters worse, Regis Brouard's side have failed to score in three of their last six in front of their own fans - a stat which leaves them susceptible to another home defeat this evening.

 

And confidence in the home camp will have been knocked severely by a humiliating cup loss to lowly Yzeure last time out.

 

Clermont go into this one sitting 13th in the division - and just one point away from the relegation zone with a third of the campaign played.

 

And the Auvergne side will be desperate to correct their recent slide this evening - however, I think the momentum of their guests will play a key part in the outcome of this encounter, and I'm backing the away side to secure three points here.

 

Bet 1: Monaco (AWAY) @ 2.44

 

Over to Turkey now, and the second tier, as Karsiyaka host Denizlispor at the Izmir Alsancak Stadium - aiming to build on an impressive recent run of results and make it six without a loss.

 

The home side are sitting comfortably in fifth place ahead of this tie, and another three points in this encounter could see them move up as high as second place.

 

And four wins from their last four outings suggests that the hosts are more than capable of inflicting defeat upon their visitors today.

 

Boss Cihat Arslan will be delighted with that return - and desperate for his side to maintain the kind of consistency necessary if they are to secure a place in the Super Lig.

 

Denizlispor travel to Izmir having won just one of their last seven, and confidence will be low in the away camp following four games without a win on the road.

 

The Horozlar have been picking up the odd decent result at the Ataturk Stadium, but their form on their travels will be worrying to boss Engin Ipekoglu, and he will be keen for his side to arrest that slump this evening.

 

Just one clean sheet in five games suggests that the visitors have weaknesses at the back though, and that is something that their hosts will be looking to take advantage of here.

 

Karsiyaka have not lost to their visitors in five outings - and I have this one down as a home win, too.

 

Bet 2: Karsiyaka (HOME) @ 2.54

 

Bet HERE !

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