The French Ligue 1 resumes with Nice hosting Nantes on Saturday at the Allianz Riviera after the international break. Both teams are looking to establish a strong footing, with the Eagles aiming to rebound from a 3-1 away loss to Le Havre in their last outing, while the Canaries will be feeling confident after a narrow 1-0 home victory against Auxerre.
This match is a regional derby with a history of close contests. With both sides currently sitting on three points in the league table, this game is a prime opportunity for either team to pull ahead and gain some much-needed momentum.
Read our Nice vs Nantes predictions and preview to find out, but remember to also check our other Ligue 1 predictions.
Contents
Nice vs Nantes prediction: Tight clash expected
Key statistics
- Over 2.5 goals have been scored in three of their last five matches.
- Nantes have won three of their last five away trips to Nice.
- BTTS have been played in four of their last five encounters.
Correct score prediction: Nice 1-2 Nantes
Looking ahead to this clash, we are predicting a 2-1 victory for the Canaries, as past meetings between the two sides have often been close and hard-fought, with neither team able to dominate.
The Eagles will have the benefit of playing at home, their inconsistency in attack shows that of Nantes, and this balance of strengths and weaknesses points toward a tightly contested game where Nantes can edge out a narrow win through greater efficiency in key moments.
Pre-match odds and win probability: Nice given favourite odds
Home: 13/20 (1.65) – 60.61%
Draw: 29/10 (3.90) – 25.64%
Away: 4/1 (5.00) – 20.00%
*Odds provided by Ladbrokes. Subject to change.*
When looking at these odds, Nice are seen as the favourites, with odds of 1.65, meaning they have about a 61% chance of winning according to the bookmaker. A draw is valued at 3.90, which translates to a 26% chance, while Nantes are considered outsiders at 5.00, giving them only a 20% chance of victory.
Most recent head-to-head: Dynamo Kiev edge record with one win
The recent meetings between Nice and Nantes have seen Luis Castro’s side edge the head-to-head by winning three of the last five clashes and two draws. Their most recent league encounter ended in a 2-1 win away from home for Nantes, proving they can compete strongly even against Franck Haise’s team.
France Ligue 1 04/04/25
Nice
Nantes
France Ligue 1 20/10/24
Nantes
Nice
France Ligue 1 31/03/24
Nice
Nantes
France Ligue 1 02/12/23
Nantes
Nice
France Ligue 1 12/03/23
Nantes
Nice
After reviewing our key Nice vs Nantes predictions, be sure to visit our website for the remaining football betting tips today.
Nice preview: Battling Injury hit squad
Ahead of the match, Haise’s side are dealing with several injury problems, as Mohamed Abdelmonem is sidelined with a knee injury, Ali Abdi is recovering from a hernia, Moise Bombito and Mohamed Cho are both out, defender Dante is unavailable with a knee problem, Youssouf Ndayishimiye is also struggling with a knee injury and Tanguy Ndombele is ruled out due to a groin issue, leaving the squad weakened in multiple areas.
Predicted lineup: Diouf (GK), Bah, Bard, Peprah Oppong, Mendy, Louchet, Samed, Boudaoui, Carlos, Jansson & Boga
Last five fixtures
- 31.08.25 – Le Havre 3 – 1 Nice
- 23.08.25 – Nice 3 – 1 Auxerre
- 16.08.25 – Nice 0 – 1 Toulouse
- 12.08.25 – Benfica 2 – 0 Nice
- 06.08.25 – Nice 0 – 2 Benfica
Nantes preview: Two players injured ahead of clash
Nantes also have injury concerns to manage, as Mamy Acapandie is unavailable ahead of the game, Fabien Centonze remains a doubt and Mahmoud Lahdo is sidelined due to a thigh problem, which limits the team’s options across different positions.
Predicted lineup: Lopes (GK), Tati, Amian, Awaziem, Cozza, Benhattab, Hong, Lepenant, Coquelin, Mohamed & Guirassy
Last five fixtures
- 30.08.25 – Nantes 1 – 0 Auxerre
- 24.08.25 – Strasbourg 1 – 0 Nantes
- 17.08.25 – Nantes 0 – 1 PSG
- 09.08.25 – Nantes 2 – 3 Paris FC
- 02.08.25 – Angers 1 – 0 Nantes
Player to watch: Bahereba Guirassy
One key player to watch is Nantes forward Bahereba Guirassy, who has made a bright start to the season with one assist in his first three league appearances.
With his creativity, skill in taking on defenders, and ability to carve out chances, he is expected to be a constant threat that Nice’s defence must pay close attention to.