Nice vs Lille Preview: Team News & Prediction
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This has the potential to be a fascinating encounter at the Allianz Riviera this weekend as an entertaining Nice side welcome a strong Lille team down to the south of France.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports Connect
Nice preview: Entertaining Nice
Coached by Lucien Faivre, Nice have been surprisingly strong in the last few weeks after INEOS made it clear that they would be neglecting the southerners in favour of Manchester United, and they are pushing for a top six position once again.
The home team head into this one on the back of back-to-back victories, having most recently defeated Stade Rennais by two goals to one at Roazhon Park, courtesy of goals from Sofiane Diop and Jonathan Clauss.
Lille preview: Need for consistency
Former Olympique Lyonnais boss Bruno Genesio is in charge of an impressive Lille side that can often play teams off the park but they are occasionally inconsistent, albeit have returned from the international break with back-to-back victories.
The northerners most recently hammered bottom-of-the-table Metz by six goals to one at Stade Pierre-Mauroy at the weekend, courtesy of a brace from Felix Correia as well as goals from Hamza Igamane, Romain Perraud, Benjamin Andre and Hakon Haraldsson.
Nice team news: Couple of doubts
Ahead of the visit of Lille, Nice are dealing with a couple of fresh injury doubts for this week such as aforementioned right-back Jonathan Clauss and striker Mohamed-Ali Cho.
Predicted XI (3-4-1-2): Diouf; Mendy, Peprah Oppong, Bard; Louchet, Abdul Samed, Vanhoutte, Abdi; Diop; Boga, Kevin Carlos
Unavailable: Abdelmonem (Injured), Moise Bombito (Injured), Ndayishimiye (Injured), Moffi (Injured)
Questionable: Cho (Injured), Clauss (Injured)
Lille team news: Fresh injury doubts
Ahead of the trip to Nice this week, Ethan Mbappe is a fresh concern for the visitors alongside experienced striker Olivier Giroud, whilst both Alexsandro and Ousmane Toure are confirmed absentees.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Ozer; Meunier, Mbemba, Mandi, Perraud; Bouaddi, Andre; Fernandez-Pardo, Haraldsson, Correia; Igamane
Unavailable: Alexsandro (Injured), Toure (Injured)
Questionable: Mbappe (Injured), Giroud (Injured)
Nice vs Lille prediction
Nice have an impressive coach and, despite off-field issues, they still have a strong squad full of exciting youngsters. They have been good to watch, too, with their nine matches having consisted of nine goals. No teams have scored more than Lille so far this season, and yet they have still conceded 11 in their nine games so a high-scoring affair seems a good bet for this one down on the south coast.
Nice vs Lille tip: Over 2.5 goals
