Le Havre followed up their opening day home win over Nice with a 1-2 defeat at Toulouse. Marseille, meanwhile, continued their scoring spree with a 4-0 home win over Auxerre and have now scored 8 in two games.

Le Havre were Ligue 2 winners last season and their home record last year was 11-8-0, conceding just 9 goals in the process. Their 1-0 win over Nice a fortnight ago suggests they can continue that record against the weaker sides in the league but they face a tougher task against Marseille.

Marseille have lost striker Cisse to Sunderland but there were rumours of him leaving so shouldn't prove a huge upset with Kone and Niang are able to get amongst the goals.

Marseille improved away from home during the season and they ended up with a record of 4-4-1 on the road after New Year.

Match Betting Previews 23-25 August 2008 >>> Premiership: Blackburn v Hull - Liverpool v Middlesbrough - Newcastle v Bolton - Stoke v Aston Villa - Spurs v Sunderland - WBA v Everton - Fulham v Arsenal - Wigan v Chelsea - Man City v West Ham - Portsmouth v Man Utd Bundesliga: Dortmund v Bayern - Werder v Schalke - Stuttgart v Leverkusen Ligue 1: Le Havre v Marseille - Lyon v Grenoble - Bordeaux v Nantes Champions League: Arsenal v Twente - Liverpool v Standard - Atletico v Schalke

Their biggest strength, though, seems to be in the goalscoring department and that has already been shown to huge effect already. Defensively, there are question marks, but Le Havre are not the most potent attacking team and, having lost Hoarau to PSG, they will find it tough to take on Marseille.

Bear in mind also that Marseille scored four away at Rennes two weeks ago, a team expected to challenge for a top six place. Marseille's improvement under Gerets should continue on the north coast and odds over $1.90 look good.

BETZINE UK TIP *****

Bet: Marseille to win Odds: $2.15 Stake: 5pts Bookies: Expekt

Match Betting Previews 23-25 August 2008 >>> Premiership: Blackburn v Hull - Liverpool v Middlesbrough - Newcastle v Bolton - Stoke v Aston Villa - Spurs v Sunderland - WBA v Everton - Fulham v Arsenal - Wigan v Chelsea - Man City v West Ham - Portsmouth v Man Utd Bundesliga: Dortmund v Bayern - Werder v Schalke - Stuttgart v Leverkusen Ligue 1: Le Havre v Marseille - Lyon v Grenoble - Bordeaux v Nantes Champions League: Arsenal v Twente - Liverpool v Standard - Atletico v Schalke