With PSG already over 10 points ahead in the Ligue 1 title race, attentions are beginning to turn to battles further down the league table. And one such encounter is the match between Nice and St-Etienne – seventh against sixth – set to take place on Friday night, with both sides looking to jump up the standings.
- Nice is unbeaten in its last six league encounters.
- St-Etienne has lost two of its last three league matches.
- Nice has won 14 of the last 26 meetings between these two sides.
Nice vs St-Etienne Game Center
Nice could extend unbeaten run
Under the stewardship of rookie boss Patrick Vieira, Nice has been one of the surprise packages of this season’s league competition. They currently sit seventh in the table, unbeaten in six and conceding at less than a goal a game. However, they are currently scoring at a rate of just 0.75 goals per game.
Both of their last two games have ended in goalless draws, and while they are well drilled at the back, their lack of adventure in the final third could well harm their chances in this contest. It is an area that Vieira must improve immediately.
St-Etienne is also having an excellent domestic campaign and sits one point and one place above Nice in the table. They have, however, lost their last two league contests on the road and will be desperate not to make it a hat trick.
Nevertheless, it is Nice that comes into this match as the favorite to take all three points. You can back the home side to pick up the win at +120, with St-Etienne out at +250 to take the points on the road. A draw is priced in the middle at +210.
Nice to edge close encounter
Given Nice’s recent performances, we are not expecting a goalfest, although with home advantage they should extend their unbeaten run as well as pick up a valuable three points. It is of course no mean feat trying to predict the exact scorelines of football matches, but a narrow 1-0 win for the home side comes in at +600 and, given the recent form of both sides, could well be worth backing.
Such a result would in turn allow you to back UNDER 2.5 goals in the game, which is priced short at -150, as well as a “No” to both teams scoring, which also comes in low at -110. Therefore, in order to try to boost any potential winnings from this game, it may be an idea to try combo betting, which allows you to select multiple outcomes at higher odds.
For example, a combo bet of a Nice win and a “No” to both teams scoring is at the much higher price of +260, while a home victory and UNDER 2.5 goals in the game is higher still, at +350. UNDER 2.5 goals and a “No” to both teams scoring is at +110.
Entertainment could be lacking in contest
This is unlikely to be a game which will go down in the annals of time as a classic, and it is more probable that the odd moment could be enough to take all three points. With that in mind, you could back Nice to win to nil (without St-Etienne scoring a goal) at a price of +260 – Nice has, after all, kept six clean sheets in a row.
As we are expecting Nice to snatch it, we are expecting them to win either half, which they are priced to do at -150. Meanwhile, they are at +275 to score in both halves and they are out at +700 to actually go out and win both halves.
In terms of goalscorers, Nice will once again be looking to Mario Balotelli to do the damage in the final third. The Italian striker is at +140 to net at any time during the 90 minutes, while you can back him at +400 to score either the first or the last goal of the game.
