Nice vs Metz prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-01-26 16:00.
Despite a slump in form heading into the winter break, Nice return to Ligue 1 action still standing as the closest contenders to PSG’s throne. The Eaglets sit eight points adrift in second place after losing three of their last five league games (W2), and in need of a quick improvement if they’re to keep alive hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time.
As all of those losses came on the road, Francesco Farioli’s men will be happy to be home where they’re unbeaten in Ligue 1 all season (W6, D3) – including an active five-match winning streak. Four of those were accompanied by a clean sheet, contributing to a division-high tally of 11 shutouts – marking Nice out as one of the best defensive sides in Europe.
Those are worrying signs for a Metz side in freefall, whose positive start to life back in the top-flight has quickly turned sour. The Maroons have lost five successive league matches to leave them outside the drop zone by virtue of goal difference alone pre-round, with insult added to injury by a recent Coupe de France exit at the hands of fellow strugglers Clermont.
One of the toughest fixtures in the division hardly looks like the ideal time to start a turnaround, but Metz may feel more comfortable on the road as they’ve won ten of their 16 points in away matches. There are certainly positive omens from this fixture too, as they’ve won both of their last two trips to Nice, albeit they last won three successive away league H2Hs in the 1950s!
Players to watch: In the absence of several African stars, Nice could turn to GaĂ«tan Laborde for inspiration – he’s won a joint-career high eight personal H2Hs against Metz (D3, L1). Last season’s top scorer Georges Mikautadze has returned to Metz on loan from Ajax, so he’ll be looking to pick up where he left off at the start of the campaign when he directly contributed to three goals in as many league games for the Maroons (G2, A1).
Hot stat: Nice’s Ligue 1 matches this season have averaged a league-low 1.67 total goals.