Nice vs Lille Prediction: Free-scoring visitors to secure the points

OGC Nice pipped Lille OSC to Uefa Champions League football last season, as the pair finished level on 60 points in fourth and fifth place, respectively. However, it’s Ligue 1’s joint-top scorers, Lille, who are making a stronger early push for a top-four finish this time around.

A 6-1 demolition of Metz at the weekend left Lille fifth, three points clear of a Nice side who lost key names over the summer. The two teams will meet at the Allianz Riviera in Ligue 1 on Wednesday evening (18:00 BST, Ligue 1 Pass), and you can build up to the action by heading below for my Nice vs Lille predictions.

Team News

Nice are dealing with a raft of injuries in the middle of a busy week.

The hosts are set to have as many as five players sidelined, with Mohamed-Ali Cho a doubt to feature. He would join the injured quartet of Terem Moffi, Moise Bombito, Youssouf Ndayishimiye and Mohamed Abdelmonem on the treatment table if he fails to prove his fitness.

Football Odds

Lille have a shorter injury list, but Olivier Giroud and Ethan Mbappe face a race to be fit. Ousmane Toure is a long-term absentee, while Alexsandro Ribeiro is also ruled out.

Nice vs Lille Odds

There’s little between the sides, with Nice heading into the game priced at 9/5 for the points, while the draw is 12/5. A Lille win can be backed at 6/4.

Both teams to score is as short as 8/13, as that has landed in each of Nice’s last eight matches.

Lille to win @ 13/10

Nice head into this game fresh from a couple of wins in the league, but the underlying numbers from their recent matches have been slightly concerning.

Nice lost the Expected Goals battle 1.7-0.7 in a 2-1 win over Rennes at the weekend. They also conceded better chances than they created in a 2-1 Europa League loss to Celta Vigo last week.

Today's Football Fixtures

Nice’s 3-2 win over Lyon saw them concede 3.3 xG to their own 0.7, while they had 1.1 xG to Monaco’s 2.9 in a 2-2 draw earlier this month.

Lille have netted 22 times across their first nine matches, picking up five victories. Nice won only three of 10 clashes with the rest of the top six last term. Given their summer departures and injury issues, back the hosts to fall short on Wednesday.

Bet Builder - Hamza Igamane to score anytime, Lille to win and both teams to score in the second half @ 9/1

Lille’s top scorer Hamza Igamane has netted all three of his league goals this term on the road. The forward has scored four times across his last three appearances in all competitions, so he’s good value to get on the scoresheet in an away win.

Both teams to score is heavily odds-on, but visitors Lille have netted 77% of their goals this term after half-time. They’ve also conceded 64% of their goals after the break, so complete this 9/1 treble by backing both teams to score in the second half.

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