Nice vs Montpellier Prediction: Hosts have the quality to progress

There are five Coupe de France round of 16 ties on Wednesday, and the clash between Ligue 1 side Nice and second-tier team Montpellier is one of the trickier contests to assess. The game at the Allianz Riviera is due to kick off at 19:30 GMT.

Nice are 13th in the 18-team French top flight but still a relatively comfortable eight points above the relegation places, while Montpellier are ninth in Ligue 2 after winning their last two games, but only seven points behind second-placed Reims. Below are my Nice vs Montpellier predictions, complete with all the latest team news and match odds.

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Team News

Nice are still without the services of Melvin Bard, Moise Bombito, Youssouf Ndayishimiye and Mohamed Abdelmonem due to injury.

Yehvann Diouf could replace Maxime Dupe in goal and Juma Bah could feature in defence after serving a suspension at the weekend.

Midfielder Teji Savanier may not be available for Montpellier after missing last Friday's win over Guingamp and defender Theo Sainte-Luce is unlikely to return to action this week.

Football Odds

Nice vs Montpellier Odds

Nice are favourites at home at 4/6, with Montpellier the 10/3 underdogs and the draw priced at 11/4.

Over 2.5 goals is priced at 4/6, with under 2.5 at 11/10. It's 4/6 that both teams score in the match and 11/10 that one or both teams fail to get on the scoresheet.

Nice to win @ 4/6

Nice went through a dreadful run in November and early December, suffering nine successive defeats, but they have got their heads together in recent weeks and should have the class required to see off Ligue 2 side Montpellier and reach the Coupe de France quarter-finals.

The hosts have been beaten only twice more in eight matches since their losing streak, and were able to secure their only win of a tough Europa League league phase campaign when they beat Go-Ahead Eagles 3-1 at home two weeks ago.

Nice have taken four points from their last two games in the French top flight, winning 4-1 at Nantes before showing plenty of fight to recover from 2-0 down against Brest at the Allianz Riviera on Sunday to claim a draw.

They are not a team you would trust at odds-on against many Ligue 1 opponents, but they should still prove too strong for a mediocre Montpellier squad.

The visitors have not really impressed at the lower level after being relegated last season with only four league wins to their name, and defeats to Pau, Denkerque and Boulogne within their last eight fixtures suggest they could struggle against Nice.

Sofiane Diop anytime goalscorer @ 13/8

Nice have found their shooting boots of late, with nine goals scored in their last four matches and midfielder Soufiane Diop is a leading contender to find the net on Wednesday.

Diop had a golden run in the autumn, scoring in five consecutive Ligue 1 matches and he supplied the third goal in the recent 4-1 win at Nantes.

Diop also netted his team's goal against Nantes in the last round of this competition and can add to his tally against Montpellier.