- Home form: Sochaux are unbeaten in three home games (D3).
- Recent form: St. Etienne have won their last two back-to-back.
- Overall record: St. Etienne are 4-1-5 across all competitions (W4, D1, L5) with many more downs than ups.
Sochaux not playing spectacularly, but they’re solid
Form and key players
Sochaux have picked up 5 goals in their last 5 games, but it's been a mixed bag of a run overall (W1, D3, L1). Aymen Boutoutaou has been in good form during that run with two goals in five games, so he's the team's most reliable bet in the final third.
St. Etienne have scored nine goals in their last five games and Jakob Breum has been at the heart of that run. Breum has three goals in his last five matches and his finishing ability has made the visitors a big threat in recent weeks.
Tactical matchup
This is a matchup of styles more than anything else. Ian Cathro's St. Etienne like to have the ball and attempt to strangle opponents high up the pitch. That will be a great test for Vincent Hognon's Sochaux, who are set up to be disciplined and compact in a narrow 4-3-3.
Three Reasons for Betting Tips
Ian Cathro's men have won their last two games scoring four goals each time (4-0 W vs Lausanne-Sports & 4-3 W vs SSC Venezia), so they're scoring plenty of goals and Sochaux have scored five goals in their last five games.
However, they're going to need a goal in this one, as St. Etienne look a little more likely to pinch it if they can press Sochaux and get the first goal.
- 1. St. Etienne's away form In five away games across all competitions, St. Etienne have one draw and four defeats (W0, D1, L4), that's a red flag for us. Sochaux have had a couple of home wobbles this term, but they've gone undefeated in their last six home games (W2, D4), so they look to have a live underdog chance on Saturday.
- 2. Sochaux can keep it close Sochaux haven't been a high-scoring team this term. In fact, at home they've scored 1.67 goals per game and conceded just 1.17, suggesting a game of controlled, but competitive home football is coming up at Stade Auguste Bonal.
- 3. The market looks right AS St. Etienne enter this as favorites at 1.85, with the home side priced at 4.1 and the draw at 3.55. However, it's a close game and I'm taking Under 2.5 goals at 1.83 and Both Teams to Score – Yes at 1.77.
