Bastia vs Angers predictions, betting tips & match preview

Bastia and Angers are close in mid-table, separated by goal difference ahead of this game. They were level on points last season too, finishing 10th and 9th respectively. Will their meeting on Saturday night be just as close? It could well be, as neither of these sides look to be in great scoring form.

Bastia are averaging just 0.75 goals per home game, and they’re currently plagued with selection problems up front. They’re without key forward Enzo Crivelli, who has scored half of their goals so far this season. They’ve managed just six in eight games so far, but can they claim a win over Angers despite being light in attack?

The hosts do have an impressive record at Stade Armand Césari to fall back on. That’s where they pick up the majority of their points. They’ve won two of their last three home matches, while they have only lost there once this season. That defeat was excusable, as they went down 1-0 to champions PSG. They’ve put together an impressive defensive record at home, conceding just 0.75 per game. They’ll be hoping to continue that against Angers.

The away side are pretty goal shy, so a home clean sheet should be expected. Angers have scored 75% of their goals this season in front of their own fans, and they average just 0.5 goals per game on the road. That’s down to their poor finishing, they’ve got a shot conversion rate of just 3% in away games so far. You would expect the Bastia defence to deal with that threat, given how they held out for 73 minutes before PSG found the net here.

Angers’ away record also includes some poor defending, they let in 10% of the shots they face on the road. That’s why they are conceding 1.25 goals per game away. After reading that, you’d hardly be surprised that they’ve lost 75% of their away games so far. That record makes them vulnerable against Bastia, as 60% of the goals they’ve let in have been from set pieces, and they concede an average of 12 fouls per game. The hosts have picked up four of their six goals from set pieces. That should help ease their scoring worries.

Angers’ poor away record stretches to this fixture, as they’ve only ever managed one win at Bastia. In five visits here, they’ve suffered three defeats. Making things even worse, those losses have come in their last three trips here. We’re backing the hosts to continue their winning run, they’re 13/10 with bet365 to take all three points.