Nice vs Montpellier prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-03-07 20:00.
[p]Having spent the first half of the season threatening to challenge for the Ligue 1 title, Nice are now sweating over qualifying for a UEFA Champions League place. The Eaglets, who last played in European football’s premier club competition back in 2017/18, have not won any of their last five games in the French top-flight (D2, L3), a run of form that has seen them drop out of the top-four altogether.[/p]
[p]The most recent of those outings was a disappointing 2-1 defeat at the hands of Toulouse which saw Francesco Farioli’s side fail to hold on to a 1-0 lead. The manager admits their poor form has left his players with “psychological doubts,” and he will be desperate to see a return to winning ways at the Allianz Riviera, where Nice have still only lost once in the league since May (W9, D5).[/p]
[p]Looking to stop that happening will be opponents Montpellier, although given they have lost six of their last seven away games in Ligue 1 (W1), supporters may be forgiven for not having too much confidence as they make the journey east. Such form has contributed to La Paillade being embroiled in a huge tussle to hold on to the place they have held in the top-flight for 15 seasons, as they sit in the bottom-three and a point adrift of safety.[/p]
[p]Michel Der Zakarian’s side have at least boosted their survival hopes lately, courtesy of a win and a draw from their last three outings (L1), including a 2-2 stalemate with Strasbourg on Sunday. Their H2H record inspires little confidence of extending that run though, as Montpellier have lost on seven of their last ten trips to Nice (W1, D2), most recently suffering a 6-1 drubbing last season, their joint-heaviest Ligue 1 defeat since 1992![/p]
[p]Key battle: Six of Terem Moffi’s seven goals for Nice this season have been the first or last of the match. Attempting to thwart him will be Montpellier’s Benjamin Lecomte, although the goalkeeper has a miserable record at the Allianz Riviera, where he has lost on his six previous visits![/p]
[p]Hot stat: Nice’s league matches this season average a division-low 1.67 total goals.[/p]
[p]Â [/p]