Angers vs Nice prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-08-31 15:00.
[p]Newly-promoted Angers have started the new Ligue 1 campaign with defeats ‘to nil’ at home against Lens and away against Lille. One of just three clubs in the division who haven’t found the back of the net at least once across the opening two weeks of the season, it appears Alexandre Dujeux’s side are struggling to adapt to life back in the French top-flight.[/p]
[p]A concerning trend of sluggish starts is already emerging where Angers are concerned, with Les Scoïstes conceding the opener in the first half in both games so far. The positive omen heading into matchday three is that Angers have not suffered defeats in their first two home games of a top-flight campaign since the 1974/75 season, although there’s a negative omen in there too, as one of those defeats 50 years ago was inflicted upon them by Sunday’s opponents, Nice![/p]
[p]Franck Haise’s Nice have netted the opener in both of their opening two games, but ended up coming away with just one point from a possible six (D1, L1), after being beaten by Auxerre before drawing with Toulouse. Given that they failed to win just five of the 19 league games in which they scored first last term (W14, D4, L1), that trend will be a concern for Haise, whose side will soon have to juggle domestic responsibilities with a UEFA Europa League campaign.[/p]
[p]Heading to the Stade Raymond Kopa this weekend, Nice will also be wary of their recent record against Ligue 1’s new boys. Already losing to Auxerre this season, they were also beaten at Le Havre last December, meaning they have now lost their last two away games against promoted sides, as many defeats as in their previous 17 such games (W9, D6).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Abdoulaye Bamba has won only one of seven career games against Nice (D4, L2), with three of the four draws ending 1-1. Forty-year-old Nice skipper Dante has a much more positive record in return, losing just one of the last seven personal H2Hs against Angers (W4, D2), although neither of his last two ended in victory (D1, L1).[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Nice have only kept one clean sheet in their last eight Ligue 1 away matches.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Ben Olawumi[/i][/p]