'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Action in France’s Ligue 1 continues this weekend, and in a big game, fourth-places Nice welcome current league leaders Lille to the Allianz Riviera.
Both sides have been in excellent form in 2020-21, with Lille still unbeaten in domestic action. However, the two sides saw varying results in the Europa League this week, so it will be interesting to see if there’s any mid-week hangover when it comes to this game.
Nice vs Lille Head-to-Head
Nice have won four of their opening seven games in Ligue 1 this season, and most recently defeated Saint-Etienne 3-1 in an impressive performance. However, their 6-2 loss to Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League this week was both stunning and disappointing. How well they can rebound is anyone’s guess.
Lille, meanwhile, are unbeaten in domestic action, winning five games and drawing two. Most impressively, Christophe Galtier’s side have scored 13 goals while conceding just two. And unlike Nice, they were successful in the Europa League this week, thumping Sparta Prague 1-4.
Last season saw these two sides draw 1-1 at the Allianz Riviera, while the return game at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy was cancelled when COVID-19 forced the season to be curtailed.
Nice form guide: L-D-W-W-L
Lille form guide: D-W-W-W-W
Nice vs Lille Team News
Nice boss and French football legend Patrick Vieira should come into this game with confidence. None of his squad are injured or unavailable, a rarity right now considering the prevalence of COVID-19 in Ligue 1.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Incredibly, Lille are in the same boat as Nice for this game. None of their squad are injured or unavailable, although Christophe Galtier may choose to make some changes to the side that comfortably beat Sparta Prague on Thursday.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Nice vs Lille Predicted XI
Nice predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Walter Benitez, Robson Bambu, Dante, Stanley N’Soki, Jordan Lotomba, Kephren Thuram, Morgan Schneiderlin, Hassane Kamara, Rony Lopes, Pierre Lees-Melou, Kasper Dolberg
Lille predicted XI (4-4-1-1): Mike Maignan, Zeki Celik, Jose Fonte, Sven Botman, Domagoj Bradaric, Yusuf Yazici, Benjamin Andre, Renato Sanches, Jonathan Bamba, Jonathan Ikone, Jonathan David
Nice vs Lille Prediction
On paper at least, this could be a close game. However, Lille’s supreme form right now makes them a very difficult side to beat, and with attacking talent like Jonathan Bamba and Jonathan Ikone to call upon, they’ll be tricky to stop.
Factor in the fact that Christophe Galtier’s side have a rock-solid defence, and Nice may well have a European hangover after that horrible loss to Bayer Leverkusen, and everything is pointing to an away win in this encounter.
Prediction: Nice 0-2 Lille
