Nantes vs Nice prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-03-11 14:00.
Although Nantes enter this clash on the back of four losses in five (W1), they emerged from last weekend’s 4-2 defeat at PSG with some credit, going in level at the break after a nightmare start that saw them go 2-0 down inside the opening 20 minutes. But there are no prizes for effort alone, and Nantes need to break their current losing habit promptly to quell any lingering fears of relegation.
The club hasn’t suffered such an indignity since 2009, when they ended up exiled from Ligue 1 for four seasons, and drawing first blood on home turf looks likely to be a key part of putting survival beyond all doubt. That’s certainly been the case of late, with each of Nantes’ five home league games in 2023 seeing at least one team fail to score (W2, D1, L2) placing added emphasis on finding an opener.
Nice’s main domestic objective for 2022/23 would likely have been to finish fifth or better in successive seasons for the first time since 2017, but that quest took a hit last weekend. A limp 1-1 draw against relegation battlers Auxerre was undoubtedly disappointing, but the Eaglets are now unbeaten in ten matches following a 1-0 win against Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday that edged them closer to the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) quarter-finals.
With nine points separating Nice from fourth place ahead of the round, few would criticise them for focusing on a UECL trophy as it looks to be their likeliest route to the Europa League. But there is every incentive to perform well here too, as Nice have the chance to complete a chain of four straight top-flight away wins, something the club last achieved way back in October 1972!
Players to watch: As well as levelling up for Nantes in Paris last weekend, Ignatius Ganago put the Canaries ahead in October’s reverse H2H. Gaëtan Laborde likewise levelled for Nice against Auxerre in the previous round, having seen five of his six goals prior act as matchwinners.
Hot stat: Nice are the only side yet to concede between the 61st-75th minute in a Ligue 1 away game this term.