The action in Ligue 1 this weekend gets underway on Friday night when Nice welcome Nantes to the Allianz Riviera. Our preview looks at whether Nice can bolster their efforts to finish in the top four, or if Nantes can move away from relegation trouble.
Contents
- 1 Nice vs Nantes prediction: Leaky visiting defence struggling away from home
- 2 Pre-game odds and win probability: Nantes appear up against it
- 3 Most recent H2Hs: Nantes have the upper hand
- 4 Nice preview: Timely returns for important first-team players
- 5 Nantes preview: Suspension and injury concerns at the back and in attack
- 6 Player to watch – Evann Guessand
Nice vs Nantes prediction: Leaky visiting defence struggling away from home
Key Stats:
- Only Saint-Etienne (40) have conceded more goals away from home in Ligue 1 this season than Nantes (30).
- Nice have failed to win any of their previous six matches against Nantes, with the Canaries winning two of the last three at the Allianz Riviera.
- Nantes have lost their last three away matches in Ligue 1, conceding 12 goals in the process.
Correct Score prediction: Nice 2-1 Nantes
Starting the weekend inside the top four, Nice are understandably big favourites to claim all three points on Friday night, despite failing to win any of their previous three matches. This is the perfect fixture for Franck Haise’s men to get back on track though, facing a Nantes side who are 20 points below them in the table, and have lost five of their last seven league games.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Nantes appear up against it
- HOME: 8/15 (1.53) – 65.2%
- DRAW: 16/5 (4.20) – 23.8%
- AWAY: 19/4 (5.75) – 17.4%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Even though they suffered defeat (2-1) to Monaco in their last outing, and drew (1-1) with Auxerre in their previous fixture at the Riviera, the bookmakers have Nice down as the clear favourites for this Friday night encounter.
Nantes were slight favourites to win away to a Le Havre side still in the bottom three last weekend, but they fell a late defeat (3-2), and their odds have drifted significantly for this tricky trip to the south of France. View more of our latest football predictions and analysis on our dedicated page.
Most recent H2Hs: Nantes have the upper hand
The recent head-to-head meetings make for grim reading from a Nice perspective, as they suffered home and away defeats to Nantes last season, while they were also unable to find three points in the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign.
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
France Ligue 1 23/10/22
Nice
Nantes
Nice preview: Timely returns for important first-team players
While last week’s result was a disappointing one for Haise and his Nice squad, there was a silver lining, with Terem Moffi and Morgan Sanson both returning from lengthy injury setbacks.
The hosts will be without defensive pair Dante and Melvin Bard through suspension here though, while Tanguy Ndombele is out with a groin injury.
Predicted lineup: Bulka (GK), Bombito, Ndayishimiye, Abdelmonem, Clauss, Rosario, Santamaria, Abdi, Guessand, Laborde & Boga
France Ligue 1 12/04/25
D
Strasbourg
2
Nice
2
France Ligue 1 04/04/25
L
Nantes
2
Nice
1
France Ligue 1 29/03/25
L
Monaco
2
Nice
1
France Ligue 1 14/03/25
D
Auxerre
1
Nice
1
France Ligue 1 09/03/25
L
Lyon
2
Nice
0
Nantes preview: Suspension and injury concerns at the back and in attack
Nantes manager Antoine Kombouare will be feeling the pressure once again after only narrowly avoiding the sack towards the end of 2024, and he could really do with a win after he saw the gap to the bottom three shorten to three points with their defeat last weekend.
The Canaries will be without Jean-Charles Castelletto due to suspension, while Marcus Coco, Tino Kadewere and Nathan Zeze are among the players currently on the treatment table.
Predicted lineup: Lopes (GK), Amian, Sow, Pallois, Cozza, Lepenant, Douglas Augusto, Thomas, Abline, Simon & Mohamed
France Ligue 1 04/04/25
W
Nice
1
Nantes
2
France Ligue 1 30/03/25
L
Le Havre
3
Nantes
2
France Ligue 1 15/03/25
W
Lille
0
Nantes
1
France Ligue 1 09/03/25
L
Strasbourg
1
Nantes
0
France Ligue 1 02/03/25
L
Marseille
2
Nantes
0
Player to watch – Evann Guessand
Last time out at the Riviera, Evann Guessand netted Nice's only goal in their draw with Auxerre, taking him to 11 Ligue 1 goals for the season.
Guessand to keep the Nantes defence guessing
The Ivorian has been Nice's most consistent performer in attack this season, and the hosts will certainly be looking to him for inspiration in this encounter.