Nice v Bordeaux – Ligue One
Nice are above Bordeaux in the standings but their form has taken a downturn since their excellent first-half of the season. They’ve won just five of 12 Ligue 1 games in 2017 so cannot be backed with huge confidence. Nice are still unbeaten at home all season (W11-D4-L0) and that will obviously give the players confidence, but their poor team news is a massive problem and potentially deals their chances of claiming all 3pts a fatal blow. Leading scorer Plea (11 goals) and key midfielder Cyprien (8 goals) are both ruled out, as is Baysse, an automatic starter at centre-back. Useful midfielders Obbadi and Walter are both out, too, making Nice even more vulnerable in the center of the pitch.
Bordeaux will be quietly confident they can get something from this game considering how they’ve played over the past three months. Since the start of 2017 they’ve actually picked up more points than Nice – 21 v 20 – so have nothing to fear. The mood in the camp will be positive thanks to their 5-1 win over Montpellier in their last match. Considering the excellent quality of attacking football Bordeaux produced in that match they’ll take the game to Nice at times rather than sitting back and simply playing for a draw. Bordeaux also have better team news than Nice. Powerful centre-back Pallois is the only automatic starter missing. Manager Gourvennec has good options in all other areas of the pitch.
Verdict & Prediction
Bordeaux will be in an upbeat mood after their 5-1 win over Montpellier in their last match. That was the latest in a series of impressive performances that has seen Bordeaux develop into one of Ligue 1’s most entertaining sides while moving up the table. They may be three places and 18pts below Nice in the standings but their 2017 record is actually better than the hosts. Bordeaux have picked up 21pts from 11 games since the turn of the year, while Nice have picked up 20. As a result this trip will hold no fears for a Bordeaux side pursuing a top-six place and playing with plenty of confidence. I recommend a bet on the visitors!
Prediction: Bordeaux +0.00 Asian Handicap (Same as Draw no bet) or Bordeaux +0.25 Asian Handicap
Odds: 2.23 Pinnacle (+0.25 option is 1.85 at Pinnacle)
