Saint Etienne vs Qabala Predictions & Betting Tips, Match Previews

Saint Etienne are having a pretty slow season so far, and it’s largely thanks to their seeming inability to put the ball in the back of the net. They have only scored more than one goal once in their last ten matches in all competitions, and their lack of clean sheets means that wins have been hard to come by.

The hosts have won just twice in their last ten outings, losing once and drawing in a ridiculous seven of them. Three of these draws have been goalless as well, so their strikers are really struggling at the moment. Robert Beric is their standout player with five goals in all competitions this term, but he is a major doubt heading into the game.

This lack of goals has seen them draw both of their Europa League group games so far and sink down to 9th in Ligue 1, so they could really do with a turnaround in form right about now.

It could well come at home against Qabala as well. The visitors have been defensively poor in the Europa League this season, conceding six goals in their two group matches and scoring three at the other end to make for some very entertaining football.

Domestically they have been typically dominant with six wins and two draws in the league, but the opposition is far worse than the likes of Anderlecht, Mainz, and Saint Etienne.

French striker Bagaliy Dabo has been at the spearhead of everything good they have done going forward. The 28 year old already has ten goals in all competitions this season, with two of those coming in the Europa League. Midfielder Theo Weeks has netted five times in the Europa League so far (qualification included) and another two times in the league, so there are some talented players in an attacking sense. Dabo is a very well priced 5/1 to score anytime with bet365, whilst Theo Weeks comes in at a huge 11/1 despite his European form this season. Considering we’re expecting Qabala to find the net, this doesn’t seem like a bad choice to back at all.

Unfortunately for them, top European scorer Theo Weeks has only netted once away from home in the Europa League, as has Bagaliy Dabo. They might not be as high scoring on the road, but they still know how to nick a goal. Qabala have scored in seven of their eight away days in all competitions this season, whilst Saint Etienne have conceded in six of their last eight games.

This makes odds of 11/10 for Both Teams to Score look a good value backing, so I’m going for that along with a 2-1 win for Saint Etienne at 15/2 for my correct score prediction.