Prediction: Nice vs PSG

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 4/6

Bookmaker: bet365

Even though Nice are unlikely to lift the Ligue 1 trophy at the end of the season, they have a chance to prove their worth against the reigning champions and at the same time help leaders Monaco increase their advantage at the top. PSG, on the other hand, need to win at Allianz Riviera if they want to keep their title hopes alive, so we definitely expect to see an interesting match on Sunday evening.

Nice

The four-time Ligue 1 winners haven’t enjoyed a great deal of success since winning the last of those trophies back in 1959, that is until Claude Puel led them to a fourth-place finish last term. Not too many people believed his successor Lucien Favre would be able to do any better, but the man who had transformed Borussia M’gladbach has done brilliantly in his debut season at Allianz Riviera. From the very start to the campaign, les Aiglons nominated themselves as serious title contenders, but they were unfortunate to have both PSG and Monaco enjoy amazing seasons as well. Despite fighting bravely, Nice now sit six points behind their league rivals with four games to go and it looks they will have to settle for a third-place finish and a place in Champions League qualifying stages. Les Aiglons have been in fine form of late and they are unbeaten in last 11 (W7 D4), while it is important to note that both teams scored in each of their last six fixtures. Considering that they now have nothing to lose, we fully expect the hosts to adopt a positive approach against PSG.

Team News

Midfielder Mounir Obbadi returns to the squad after recovering from injury, but Alassane Plea and Wylan Cyprien remain in the treatment room.

PSG

Given the amount of money the wealthy Qatari owners invested in the playing squad, nobody thought that any side could prevent Paris Saint-Germain from defending the Ligue 1 trophy, but both Monaco and Nice did well to keep up with the Saints, with the Principality club now the favourites for the coveted title. PSG are on the right track to win both domestic Cup competitions, but they face an uphill task in the league, with the two sides level on points and Monaco having a game in hand. The Saints missed yet another excellent opportunity to reach the final stages of the Champions League, but at least they managed to respond well to the embarrassing 6-1 loss to Barcelona. PSG have since won each of their ten games on all fronts, and no doubts they head into the Nice clash brimming with confidence. However, having already suffered four defeats on the road in the current Ligue 1 campaign, the Saints will have to be wary of high-flying Nice even though they have been made odds on favourites to claim maximum points.

Team News

Argentine playmaker Javier Pastore is unlikely to feature after missing training on Friday, with full-back Layvin Kurzawa also expected to miss out.

Key Factors to Consider

• PSG won seven of last eight meetings with Nice (D1)
• Nice scored just once in last three home games vs PSG (L3)
• Both teams scored in les Aiglons’ last six fixtures
• PSG won ten games in a row, scoring 28 goals
• Nice are unbeaten in last 11 (W7 D4)

Conclusion

Paris Saint-Germain are on top of their game at the moment and they have rightly been made favourites to win, but we do expect Nice to score at least one goal, seeing that they’ve got nothing to lose and stand something to win in case of a triumph.

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 4/6

Bookmaker: bet365