Top 14 League Odds: La Rochelle vs Stade Francais
The French Top 14 league is wrapping up, with the final game of the season being played on Saturday - and the play-off spots for the championship are still up for grabs. One of the most exciting games is La Rochelle vs Stade Francais, with La Rochelle desperately needing a win to qualify for the play-offs.
We bring you the latest odds, predictions, and analysis.
La Rochelle vs Stade Francais Betting Odds
La Rochelle are heavy favourites to win this game, with bet365 giving them odds as short as 1/8. Betway also see a La Rochelle victory as likely, with odds of 2/13.
La Rochelle have a formidable home record, winning their last 5 games in the Top 14, while Stade Francais have stumbled slightly despite their excellent season. The home advantage, plus the fact that La Rochelle need to win to qualify for the play-offs, may give them a competitive edge.
However, Stade Francais also have much to gain from a win. While it’s unlikely that Montpellier will drop points against Lyon, Stade Francais could capitalise on a surprise result by leapfrogging Montpellier and taking second spot in the table, putting them automatically in the semi-finals of the play-offs.
| bet365 | bwin | Betway | |
| La Rochelle | 1/8 | n/a | 2/13 |
| Stade Francais | 9/2 | n/a | 19/4 |
*While bwin are not offering odds on this match, they have options to bet on the French Top 14 tournament winner. La Rochelle are given 28/1 currently, with Stade Francais at 16/1.
Recent History of Matches
La Rochelle have won all of their last 5 matches in the Top 14 and are on a dangerously strong streak. Their results in May included an impressive 38-10 victory over league leaders Toulouse, and their most recent result was a comfortable 71-15 dismissal of the hapless US Montauben. La Rochelle boast an extremely strong forward pack that is likely to give Stade Francais some serious trouble, which is why the bookies have them as favourites.
Meanwhile, Stade Francais have also put together a solid 4 wins in the Top 14, although a tight 34-32 victory over Pau was the only result against very challenging opposition. Their high-scoring attack will need to be on form to break down La Rochelle’s disciplined line-up at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre, though.
Head-to-Head Record
The last two meetings between these teams have been extremely tight and both won by Stade Francais. Their meeting earlier this season was a close 26-24, and their previous meeting was 22-17.
However, both these games were played at the Stade Jean-Bouin. If we look at La Rochelle’s recent home record against Stade Francais, it’s a very different story. The last two meetings at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre have been solid 35-18 and 23-3 wins for La Rochelle. The home advantage is no joke.
Conclusion: What’s There to Expect?
9/2 odds on a Stade Francais win are very tempting. However, La Rochelle have everything to play for at a stadium where they are very difficult to break down. It’s likely they’ll win this game, but betting on the visitors could be rewarding.
