Clermont vs Paris SG prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-09-29 15:00.
Clermont Foot’s desperate start to the Ligue 1 season continued last weekend, as Pascal Gastien’s side were beaten 2-1 at newly-promoted Le Havre. That defeat left the Lancers stranded at the foot of the table with just one point from their first six matches, a far cry from the top-eight finish they managed in last season’s top-flight.
Gastien insists his team “have to take points” from their next two matches, but with the first of those coming against defending champions Paris Saint-Germain, it certainly looks unlikely his side will act upon his rallying cry here. Clermont have conceded a whopping 11 goals in the two top-flight H2Hs they’ve hosted (L2), so keeping the back door shut will be key if they’re to avoid becoming just the ninth side in Ligue 1 history to win only one point after seven rounds.
The expected absence of Kylian Mbappé certainly helps in that quest, with the PSG superstar forced off with injury in his side’s dominant 4-0 victory over Marseille in Le Classique. That was a fourth win in five matches for the Parisians (L1), who are starting to find their feet under new boss Luis Enrique as they bid to defend their title.
There may be thoughts of revenge on the minds of the players and indeed the fans after Clermont ran out 3-2 winners in the most recent meeting at the Parc des Princes, but PSG are a different beast on the road, unbeaten in Ligue 1 away matches since February (W7, D2). That run can be largely credited to their attacking firepower, as despite that imperious run, they’ve conceded exactly once in each of their last six away league matches.
Players to watch: Clermont’s Maxime Gonalons wore the captain’s armband in their 3-2 H2H victory in June and he’s faced PSG four more times than any other opponent in his career (W4, D4, L14). Gonçalo Ramos netted twice after replacing Mbappé against Marseille, with each of his last 12 club goals coming in wins.
Hot stat: PSG have scored at least twice before half-time in all four top-flight H2Hs.