Lyon vs Nice Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Olympique Lyonnais will be looking to relaunch themselves again this season as they did around this time last year. They face a Nice side that were humiliated by a struggling Rangers side in the UEFA Europa League in midweek.
Kick-off date/time: Sunday 1st December, 2024: UK – 4:00pm / US ET – 11:00am / US PT – 8:00am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
Lyon Preview: Chaotic Lyon
As mentioned, Lyon propelled themselves last season. Pierre Sage was appointed as their third manager of the campaign in early December and they launched themselves from rock-bottom in Ligue 1 to sixth but their turbulent summer transfer window brought about by the bizarre ownership of John Textor has left a cloud over the club.
They have an administrative relegation looming over them due to financial issues brought about by Textor. Lyon, on the pitch, have an excellent squad with a good coach and they hammered Qarabag by four goals to one in the UEFA Europa League in midweek in Baku. They have suffered just one defeat in their last 12 matches across all competitions.
Nice Preview: Annihilated Nice
Former Lens boss Franck Haise took charge of Nice over the summer and after a slow-ish start to the campaign, the southerners have been much-improved as the season has gone on as they begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting just outside of the top four and the UEFA Champions League spots in Ligue 1.
However, they come into this one on the back of being beaten 4-1 by Rangers at the Allianz Riviera in the UEFA Europa League in midweek. Domestically, Nice are unbeaten in their last eight matches in Ligue 1 since losing to Olympique de Marseille all the way back in mid-September.
Lyon Team News: Deep squad
A reason for Lyon’s potential administrative relegation was a failure to sell players over the summer and that now means they have a needlessly deep squad in attack.
That has made it difficult for Lyon to put together a slick and cohesive style of football but the hosts are dealing with an injury to Mahamadou Diawara with a knee issue.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Perri; Maitland-Niles, Clinton Mata, Niakhate, Abner; Tolisso, Matic; Nuamah, Cherki, Benrahma; Lacazette
Unavailable: Diawara (Injured)
Questionable:
Nice Team News: Key issues
42-year-old centre-back and Nice captain Dante remains unavailable for this weekend after starting the season quite well in Franck Haise’s back three system.
Former Olympique de Marseille full-back Jonathan Clauss also remains sidelined for Nice alongside fellow first-teamers Morgan Sanson and Jeremie Boga.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Bulka; Louchet, Moise Bombito, Nandjou, Bard; Cho, Boudaoui, Rosario, Guessand; Moukoko, Diop
Unavailable: Dante (Injured), Clauss (Injured), Sanson (Injured), Abdi (Injured), Mendy (Injured), Boga (Injured)
Questionable:
Lyon vs Nice Prediction
In their 12 matches so far this season, there has been 35 goals in Lyon games with the same amount coming in Nice games. Lyon are chaotic both on and off the pitch but their deep attack does make them often very entertaining to watch under Sage. Nice and Haise are supposed to be a little bit more formulaic and process driven but have themselves been a little loose and lacking control so there is a good chance this is quite an entertaining encounter for the neutral.
Lyon vs Nice Tip: Both teams to score
