Nice vs Brest prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2025-05-16 19:00.
[p]Nice’s hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League (UCL) hang in the balance after a 2-0 defeat to Rennes in the last round. Had the Eaglets won that game, they’d be all but assured of a top-four finish and still be in the race for automatic UCL league phase qualification, but instead, the best they can hope for is to fend off Lille and Strasbourg’s advances and hold onto fourth, which is worthy of a UCL qualification round spot.[/p]
[p]The race for continental football is so tight that Franck Haise’s side could even miss out on Europe altogether should they lose to Brest and results elsewhere go against them. A Saturday-held fixture should help them ensure that’s not the case here, as Nice have won their last six Ligue 1 games held on a Saturday.[/p]
[p]That makes fairly ominous reading for Brest, who have failed to score in five of the last six meetings between these two teams (W1, D2, L3) and are winless in away H2Hs since 1989 (D4, L5)! Given those negative historical omens, it’s perhaps fortunate that the Pirates have little but pride to play for on the final day, as a run of back-to-back victories, both accompanied by a clean sheet, comes too late to force their way into the European qualification reckoning.[/p]
[p]That amounts to a disappointing campaign for Éric Roy’s side, who haven’t won a single match on the road against a team currently in the top ten (D1, L7). If they’re to change that at the very last attempt, they may have to nose ahead, as Brest have won a joint-league low one point from losing positions in Ligue 1 this season (D1, L13).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Nice forward Evann Guessand netted the winner when these two teams met in November – five of his last six Ligue 1 strikes served to open the scoring before half-time. Brest’s Ludovic Ajorque has netted 13 times in the league this season, but he’s also committed a division-high 59 fouls.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: There have been a league-high 57 goals scored in the first half of Brest’s Ligue 1 games this season.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matt Jones[/i][/p]