St Etienne vs Nice prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2025-02-28 16:00.
[p]After enjoying promotion last season, Saint-Étienne supporters would have been hoping that their side could kick on in Ligue 1 this time around but as the season goes on, they remain in big trouble. Last time out, the Greens conceded a 94th-minute equaliser to draw 3-3 with Angers, a result which extended their winless league run to seven matches (D3, L4) and left them in the relegation play-off position. [/p]
[p]With all five of their top-flight victories coming on home soil so far this term, another fixture at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard should lift spirits, even if it comes against tough opposition. That’s particularly true of Nice’s visit this weekend, as St-Étienne have lost four of their last five H2Hs (W1), going down 8-0 in this season’s reverse fixture – their joint-second biggest defeat in club history![/p]
[p]With that in mind, Nice will head into this clash with a spring in their step, aided further by their 2-0 victory over Montpellier at the weekend. Not only did that preserve the Eaglets’ place in the top three, but it also made it three wins in succession for Franck Haise’s side as they continue to recover from their patchy start to 2025. [/p]
[p]Nice’s Achilles’ heel this season has been their away form, as they have taken just 16 points from their 12 matches on the road (W4, D4, L4), compared to 27 on home soil. A leaky backline has been the main culprit for that return as Nice have kept just two clean sheets across those 12 outings, yet a return of just one defeat from their last five league trips suggests they’re an improving travelling outfit (W2, D2).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Irvin Cardona struck twice for St-Étienne last time out, though he’s never faced a side more often than Nice in Ligue 1 without ever scoring (seven games). Gaëtan Laborde took his tally to nine league strikes for Nice at the weekend, with his last three all serving as match openers. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Nice’s Ligue 1 games this season have averaged the most goals before half-time (1.7). [/p]
[p][i]Written by Nathan Evans[/i][/p]