Nice vs AC Ajaccio prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-02-09 20:00.
“We're starting to get a taste for victory," beamed coach Didier Digard after Nice’s 3-1 win at second-place Marseille on Sunday, with that victory meaning they have lost only once in 13 Ligue 1 games (W7, D5). Nice’s latest result was more evidence of their improvement under Digard as they’re now just six points from the European places and top the five-game form standings (W4, D1), with no Ligue 1 team conceding fewer than their two goals during that period.
With the Eaglets also unbeaten across their last six Ligue 1 outings at the Allianz Riviera (W4, D2) there may be belief they can continue their rise, especially against an Ajaccio side that have won just once at this stadium from nine attempts (D1, L7). A victory might be the perfect tribute to Charly Loubet, Nice legend and former French international, who died last week at the age of 77.
The visitors make the approximate 230-kilometre trip across the Mediterranean Sea on the back of five defeats from their previous six league matches (W1), bookended by a 2-0 home defeat against Nantes last weekend. As a consequence, ACA find themselves in the relegation zone, but coach Olivier Pantaloni remains positive with his side just one point from safety ahead of the round, stating post-match that they are “still in the race".
Playing away from home might not bother Pantaloni’s men as they’ve picked up 61% of their Ligue 1 points on their travels (W3, D2, L6), placing them in a minority of sides performing better on the road. Although unfancied by the bookmakers in this one, one of Ajaccio’s three away Ligue 1 wins came against Marseille, which should prove that another upset is not unimaginable.
Players to watch: Nice will hope Gaëtan Laborde can find the net after leading his team to victory in his previous five goalscoring Ligue 1 appearances. Aiming to eclipse him, Ajaccio’s Mounaïm El Idrissy has scored all three of his league away goals this season after half-time.
Hot streak: Nice failed to win when Ajaccio scored across the last 16 Ligue 1 H2Hs (D3, L2), with the last such victory dating back to 1972.