Ligue 1:

I have been hugely impressed with Nice this season and was originally keen on them to defeat Lorient today, but the hosts are without injured top scorer Dario Cvitanich (20-12-3.... no wins in the three matches he has missed, scoreless in two), and defensive midfielder Didier Digard (22-1-1), central midfielder Mahamane Traoré (18-2-1) is still with Mali at the ACN. So I am going to have to pass, despite the viistors arriving without several key players of their own.

Six pointer at Troyes, where the basement club entertain Sochaux, who sit two points and one place outside the drop zone. The hosts have upped their game recently posting a 5-0 road win in the cup and taking four points from a home match with Brest and always difficult trip to Lille in their last three outings and victory today, would give them a real chance of survival.

Pre match things have gone their way with Sochaux making the trip without a host of players,including central defender Mathieu Peybernes (16-0-1) , left back Yassin Mikari (8-1-0) and defensive midfielder Carlao (9-0-0) both of whom have been starting regularly lately , another holding player in Thierry Doubai (8-2-1) and forward Roy Contout (18-0-2) are all out, Mali midfielder Kalilou Traore (8-0-0) is still on African Nations Cup duty, while Giovanni Sio is suspended.

Short of options, coach Éric Hély has called up defender Frederic Duplus and midfielder Petrus Boumal , Duplus has not played for Sochaux since May 2010 ( !), or any match at all for nine months, Boumal is just 19 yo and has 16 minutes of league football to his name. This is all about motivation and approach, Troyes will be all out for the win, Sochaux will be happy with a point, but do not seem to have the personnel in key areas to play for it, home win. 1.5 units Troyes -0.5 ball 1.99 asian line/ Ibramarket.

Troyes : Matthieu Dreyer, Yohann Thuram,Jérémie Bréchet, Maxime Colin, Julien Faussurier, Florian Jarjat, Fabrice Nsakala, Matthieu Saunier, Fabien Camus, Stéphane Darbion, Eloge Enza-Yamissi, Granddi Ngoyi, Benjamin Nivet, Quentin Othon, Thiago ,Jean-Christophe Bahebeck, Corentin Jean, Marcos.

Sochaux : Pouplin, Ovono - Corchia, Kanté, Poujol, Roussillon, Daf - Lopy, Nogueira, Boudebouz, Dias, Yartey, Roudet - Butin, Privat, Bakambu

Good Luck.