There are several exciting Ligue 1 fixtures in the upcoming round but Nice vs Lyon will be one of the highlights. This is a clash which will have a huge impact on the ambitions of both teams.
Nice are absolutely determined to make it to the Champions League next season and are crushing every opponent on their path. The Eaglets enter this round with four wins in a row in Ligue 1 and a comfortable position in 3rd place.
Who would have thought they would climb so high in the league after having one of the worst performances we have ever seen in the Europa League. The team finished at the bottom of the standings without a single win in eight rounds. They were also subsequently knocked out of Coupe de France, falling to a team from the fourth tier in French football.
Franck Haise seems to have found a way to motivate his team and they won their last four games, scoring at least two goals in each. But now they face a tough clash with Lyon, whose form is just as good. The Kids have recorded four resounding victories in their last five games in all competitions, the one exception being the loss to PSG.
Lyon are likely to be exhausted after the tough clash in Romania against FCSB during the week, but the team is in a poor position in the standings and cannot afford to make any mistakes. Lyon are only 6th in Ligue 1, a full seven points below Nice.
How the bookies view it: Huge home advantage
We were definitely surprised when we saw the odds ahead of this game. Bookmakers give a huge advantage to Nice, pricing their win at 1/1. Alternatively, you can pick Lyon at 5/2 or the draw at 27/10.
Recent head to head: One of the closest rivalries in Ligue 1
The fact is, we never know what to expect when these two teams meet. Both sides have won several games in recent years. In fact, both teams have four wins in their last 10 H2Hs. But perhaps most importantly at this point, the Kids won the first game this season by a resounding 4-1 at home.
Players to watch: Lacazette to step up against Nice again?
Will Alexandre Lacazette wake up or will he produce another average performance? He is recording his weakest season with the team to date, with just 9 goals in Ligue 1. However, it should be noted that three of those goals came in his hat-trick against Nice in the reverse fixture. Will he step up again against this very team?
Probable line-ups
Nice: Bulka, Dante, Ndayishimiye, Bombito, Bard, Santamaria, Rosario, Clauss, Cho, Laborde, Guessand
Lyon: Perri, Tagliafico, Niakhate, Mata, Maitland-Niles, Matic, Tolisso, Tessmann, Nuamah, Cherki, Lacazette
Anything else catch the eye?
Interestingly, most of the games between the two teams in recent years did impress with many goals. However, the first one this season ended with a 4-1 score. Both teams are in exceptional form at the moment, which could mean one of two things. We may see a serious battle and few scoring opportunities, but it is more likely that both teams will score goals.
That's what we choose to bet on in this match. Nice have scored 2+ goals in each of their last four games, and Lyon in every one of their last five. The three points from this game are key to both sides' ambitions as they fight for a Champions League spot. We're also taking a gamble with a smaller bet on a Nice win. Apart from PSG, the Eaglets are the only team in Ligue 1 without a loss at home this season, with eight wins and three draws, plus a 27:9 goal difference.
This French Ligue 1 match between Nice and Lyon will be played on and kick off at 19:45. Check below for our tipsters best Nice vs Lyon prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
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