Bitesize Prediction: Nice vs Clermont – 25/02/24

Competition: Ligue 1

Market: Nice win

Odds: 1/2 @ BetUS

Desperate to make a crucial return to winning ways on Sunday afternoon, Nice will welcome Clermont to the Allianz Riviera.

Starting with the hosts, while Nice might have continued to receive a string of plaudits from across France’s elite this season, Francesco Farioli’s men are seeking a recent boost. Last seen getting hit with a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Lyon, the Eaglets have recorded just a single victory from any of their previous four domestic appearances across all competitions. Nevertheless, extending on their Coupe de France adventure earlier in the month as they secured a 4-1 romp away at Montpellier, Nice still find themselves sat in the driving seat to punch a famous Champions League ticket in 2024. With the mood around the Allianz still at a red-hot high, Sunday’s hosts will certainly be smelling the chance to make another Ligue 1 statement here. Likewise, despite being last seen in front of their own supporters slumping to an action-packed 3-2 defeat against Monaco, Farioli’s men have won all of their other seven domestic showdowns at the Allianz Riviera. It should also be noted, the Eaglets have suffered just a single defeat on home soil across any format so far this season.

As for the visitors, while Clermont might have sprung a real Ligue 1 upset last season as they secured a top-half finish, Pascal Gastien’s men are enduring a real crisis this time around. Last seen putting in another downbeat display as they suffered a routine 3-1 drumming away at Rennes, the Lancers are rightfully tipped as a landslide relegation contender in 2024. Opening this weekend’s fixtures sat rock-bottom of the table and six points adrift of top-flight safety, Clermont have recorded just a single victory from any of their previous 11 straight Ligue 1 appearances – a run that stems all the way back to November 12th. Likewise, losing back-to-back showdowns on the road by an aggregate score of 7-1, Gastien’s men should also be concerned by their most recent meeting against Sunday’s hosts. Suffering a 1-0 defeat when they welcomed Nice to the Stade Gabriel-Montpied for their reverse Ligue 1 meeting back on October 27th, we are expecting a similar outcome here.

Bet: Nice 1/2 to beat Clermont in Sunday’s Ligue 1 matchup @ BetUS