Monaco’s performances have been a hit or miss, with strong showings at home and disgraceful defeats on the road. But Nice have had it much worse and the Monegasques intend to make their situation even more dire.
Monaco’s inconsistency has cost them too many points already in Ligue 1, as they suffered terrible away defeats to Brest (4-1) and Lorient (3-1) in between the convincing home wins. Luckily, their next match will be at Stade Louis II, and they can be confident after coming from behind to a draw against Manchester City mid-week.
Meanwhile, Nice suffered their second defeat in the Europa League when they travelled to Turkey to face Fenerbahce. The worst part is they are nowhere to be seen in the Ligue 1 standings either, as the Eagles won only two of their six fixtures to date, and both were at home. On the road, they are 0/4 across all competitions and they conceded 2+ goals in each defeat.
How the bookies view it: Nice to remain winless on the road
Considering the forms of the two teams, we knew Monaco would be heavy betting favourites, but we expected a bigger advantage. The 9/10 to win gives us a solid opportunity to make a profit, while a Nice triumph will pay at 29/10. The draw is also an option at 27/10.
Recent head-to-head: The Eagles have the edge
The Monaco-Nice rivalry has produced some highlight fixtures in recent seasons, but the curious fact is the Eagles have the short-term edge. They won three of the last five H2Hs. However, historically, the home side has won most matches, like Monaco’s eight wins in the last 10 games as host.
Players to watch: Fati is settling in well
Ansu Fati needed extra time to get match ready but has finally began playing and has been getting more and more playtime. We expect to see him in the starting line-up soon, maybe as soon as Sunday. But even if he gets in as a sub, his productivity so far has been incredible. He came on as a sub three times this season and scored in each game. He couldn’t make a difference against Manchester City, but is a valid option against Nice and bookmakers still put a very high price on him to score.
Probable line-ups
Monaco: Kohn, Mawissa, Teze, Salisu, Vanderson, Idumbo, Diatta, Coulibaly, Minamino, Akliouche, Fati
Nice: Diouf, Mendy, Oppong, Bombito, Abdi, Clauss, Sanson, Samed, Diop, Cho, Moffi
Anything else catch the eye?
Statistically, everything points towards Monaco and we will back them to beat Nice and send them close to the relegation trenches. The Monegasques are unbeaten at home in Ligue 1 in 2025, winning 10 of their 11 matches (D1). Meanwhile, Nice are on a five-match losing streak on the road in all competitions, and conceded at least twice on every occasion. We expect Nice to find the net at least once, as Monaco’s defence and midfield are not in optimal condition with all the injuries right now, but the Monegasques should add the three points to their total in the end.
GambleAware