Nice vs Clermont prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-04-22 13:00.
Not too long ago Nice were one of Europe’s highest-flying teams, boasting a 14-game unbeaten streak (W8, D6) which saw their progress in both the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) and Ligue 1 gain real momentum. Things have fallen apart since then for interim manager Didier Digard, who’s suffered his first losses as Nice boss in their recent four-game winless run (D1, L3), which includes crashing out of the UECL at the quarter-final stage in midweek after an extra-time defeat against Basel.
It remains to be seen how that energy sapping affair will affect the Eaglets' already poor Ligue 1 form, having recently slipped down to ninth in the table after suffering back-to-back league defeats. The Allianz Riviera faithful have felt the brunt of their team’s recent shortcomings, with Nice’s failure to win any of their last four league games there (D3, L1) now their longest such drought since December 2020.
At the opposite end of the form table you’ll find their visitors Clermont, who have wholeheartedly cashed in on a kind schedule of late by winning their last three league matches, all against the bottom-three sides. Another victory would rewrite the club’s history books as never before have the Lancers won four Ligue 1 matches in succession, and doing so would see them leapfrog Nice in the standings.
Manager Pascal Gastien knows first-hand his team are capable of an upset here, since Clermont not only won this fixture 1-0 last season, but replicated that scoreline earlier in this campaign meaning they are on the hunt for a league-double. They’ve got a healthy recent away record backing them too, having lost only twice on the road this year in Ligue 1 (W4, D1).
Players to watch: Gaëtan Laborde has enjoyed the comforts of home lately, scoring six of his last eight goals at the Allianz Riviera. Meanwhile, Clermont will be hoping Elbasan Rashani can continue his habit of netting their opening goal in seven of his last eight goalscoring outings, including the subsequent winner here last season.
Hot stat: Only 11 of Nice’s Ligue 1 games this season have produced over 2.5 goals, a league-low.