Nice vs Monaco prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-02-10 19:45.
After both sides played out their midweek cup duties, attention will swiftly turn back to Ligue 1 matters as surprise title hopefuls Nice look to keep the pressure on PSG with another win here. That pressure has dissipated somewhat in recent weeks, with Nice taking just two wins from their last five league outings (D1, L2) – form which has seen them fall eight points adrift of the Ligue 1 peak – although this remains their strongest return after 20 rounds since 2016/17.
The Eaglets are one of just two sides entering this round unbeaten at home in league action this term (W7, D3), whilst eight of those games came with clean sheets, another league-best tally. Despite their solidity, Nice often take their time to settle into matches, with five of their seven home league wins coming after the game was level at half-time, whilst 15 of their 20 scored goals anywhere came beyond the interval.
Sitting just four points behind their hosts, but crucially outside of the top-four ahead of the round, Monaco head here on the back of a disappointing three-game winless run of Ligue 1 games which has stunted their Champions League qualification bid. Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of that run is the fact that Monaco have drawn after scoring first in their last two games, thus spoiling their former 100% win rate when scoring first in Ligue 1 (W6, D2).
Taking to the road doesn’t often faze Monaco, who have one of the strongest travelling records in Ligue 1 at present (W4, D4, L2). Whilst that is impressive form, it must be noted that all of their unbeaten trips therein came against teams beginning the round below them, whilst both defeats came against sides sat above them in the table and by multi-goal margins.
Players to watch: Nice remain without Jeremie Boga (G3) and Terem Moffi (G6) who are still at the Africa Cup of Nations, so they may look to Gaëtan Laborde for an outlet instead as he’s scored three team openers against Monaco in his career. Trying to outdo him will be Monaco’s Aleksandr Golovin, who has scored more H2H goals against Nice (G4) than any other team.
Hot stat: Monaco have picked up a league-high 14 points when conceding the first goal this season (W4, D2, L5).