Nice vs Lorient Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Nice have again endured a forgettable and frustrating summer as the southerners welcome Lorient down to the Allianz Riviera on the opening day.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1+ / USA – beIN Sports Connect
Nice preview: Circling the drain
The big headline story for this one comes in the dugout as Olivier Pantaloni begins his Nice reign against the team that he departed this summer, having led Lorient to Ligue 1 in the 2024-25 season and then ensuring they comfortably survived last season.
Nice remain under the ownership of INEOS, who have more or less made it clear that they have little interest in Nice and in French football, especially since they took over the footballing operations at Manchester United. Pantaloni has been allowed to bring Laurent Abergel with him down to the south coast of France.
Lorient preview: Continuing to build
While Pantaloni did do an excellent job at Lorient, the impressive running of the club should also take a lot of, if not most, of the credit for what they have achieved in recent seasons, leading to this year being one in which they should be targeting UEFA competition qualification.
Alexandre Dujeux has enjoyed a strong few seasons in charge of an Angers side that he again managed to steer clear of relegation last season. A member of the Black Knight Group, alongside AFC Bournemouth, business has been relatively quiet over the summer.
Nice team news: Abergel out
The aforementioned Laurent Abergel has picked up a knee injury just before the start of the campaign and so he is now sidelined with injury prone defender Mohamed Abdelmonem again a doubt after an ankle injury sustained while at FIFA World Cup 2026 with Egypt.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Diouf; Peprah Oppong, Moise Bombito, Bard; Mendy, Witsel, Sanson, Abdi; Diop, Ngoumou; Cho
Unavailable: Abergel (Injured)
Questionable: Abdelmonem (Injured)
Lorient team news: Ready to go
Unlike Nice, Lorient head into the opening day with no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues to deal with and therefore a fully fit and available squad to choose from.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Mvogo; Mendy, Toure, Adjei, Kouassi; Cadiou, Makengo, Avom; Fadiga, Bamba, Tosin
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Nice vs Lorient prediction
Lorient played quite an entertaining but often naive style of football under Pantaloni. That would at least be progress in terms of interest for Nice supporters. Dujeux has earned a reputation for being smart and pragmatic so marrying those two things together should stand Lorient in good stead this season and him being able to mastermind a game plan to get off to a strong start here would seem a decent bet for this one.
Nice vs Lorient tip: Double chance - Lorient to win or draw
