Clermont vs Nice prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2022-08-20 13:00.
Clermont have toyed with the nerves of their fans since the beginning of the season, as they followed up a 5-0 home loss against PSG in the opening round by winning 4-2 at Reims, despite a 2-0 deficit at the half-hour mark. It was the first time ever that Clermont scored 4+ goals in a Ligue 1 game, notably thanks to a nine-minute brace from new signing Komnen Andrić!
A home game is unlikely to provide any comfort for fans of Clermont as they have won just two of their previous 15 top-flight outings at the Gabriel Montpied Stadium (D4, L9), a record that included a 2-1 loss at the hands of none other than Nice. However, a 1-0 win in the last H2H at their opponents back in February should see Clermont line up confidently here.
A pair of 1-1 draws to open the league season perhaps wasn’t the start Nice had dreamt of, and with the Eaglets having the disadvantage of a midweek European journey to Israel, they’ve had less time to prepare for this clash compared to their opponents. Another unfavourable result here may see fans call for additional arrivals before the end of the window, with Arsenal’s Nicolas Pépé reportedly in discussions with coach Lucien Favre.
Improvement is badly needed in the final third if Nice are to replicate manager Favre’s run to third place in 2016/17, especially as they’ve failed to score in five of their last nine Ligue 1 road trips. A good omen lies in the fact that Nice have won 70% of their Ligue 1 away games entered as betting favourites (W7, D1, L2) last season – a league-high!
Players to watch: Clermont may rely on Elbasan Rashani for a fast start as he’s been his team’s first scorer in his last five goalscoring Ligue 1 matches. Meanwhile, Nice have won 12 of the last 13 games in which Amine Gouiri scored (D1).
Hot stat: Clermont have failed to win 78% of their home league games as pre-match outsiders since the beginning of 2021/22 (W2, D1, L6).