Nice vs Saint-Etienne Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 French Ligue 1
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Ahead of this season and perhaps even given the performances and results in the early part of this season, this one would have appeared as a major mis-match – especially with Nice having home advantage at the Allianz Riviera.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Friday 20th September, 2024 - UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
NICE PREVIEW: NEGLECTED BUT NEW LOOK NICE
With INEOS pouring time and money into their new toy, Manchester United, Nice have not necessarily been their singular focus but they have enjoyed another fairly impressive and ambitious summer of recruitment as they aim for a top six finish and potential qualification for UEFA competition.
The southerners have, though, under the management of former Lens boss Franck Haise, been underwhelming and have started the 2024/25 Ligue 1 season with a win, a draw and two defeats in their opening four matches. The home team come into this one on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Olympique de Marseille in the Mediterranean Derby.
SAINT-ETIENNE PREVIEW: GETTING ON THE BOARD
Following their promotion to the top-flight last season, Saint-Etienne have endured a miserable start to life back in Ligue 1 but the giants of French football have finally got themselves on the board with a much-needed victory last week to show signs that they can be competitive this season.
Coached by former Montpellier Herault boss Olivier Dall’Oglio, Saint-Etienne started the season with three successive losses against Monaco, Le Havre and Stade Brest but they come into this one on the back of a much-needed victory as they edged past Lille at the Geoffrey-Guichard last weekend.
NICE TEAM NEWS: NICE HEADACHE TO HAVE
Sofiane Diop returned from injury over the September international break alongside Youssoufa Moukoko and both will challenge for a starting berth after key injuries in the Nice attack.
Former Montpellier man Gaetan Laborde remains sidelined alongside with Terem Moffi with former Chelsea man Jeremie Boga also now unavailable for the hosts.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Bulka; Abdelmonem, Ndayishimiye, Dante; Clauss, Rosario, Ndombele, Bard; Cho, Guessand, Diop
UNAVAILABLE: Boudaoui (Injured), Sanson (Injured), Boga (Injured), Laborde (Injured), Moffi (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
SAINT-ETIENNE TEAM NEWS: PLENTY OF ISSUES
Saint-Etienne have had the unfortunate issue of dealing with issues in their defence such as long-term absentees Mahmoud Bentayg and Anthony Briancon, who remain unavailable.
As well as those, there are a couple of fresh injury concerns to deal with such as Yvann Macon, Thomas Monconduit, Ibrahima Wadji and Augustine Boakye.
PREDICTED XI (4-1-4-1): Larsonneur; Appiah, Batubinsika, Abdelhamid, Cornud; Ekwah; Davitashvili, Moueffek, Amougou, Cafaro, Stassin
UNAVAILABLE: Macon (Injured), Bentayg (Injured), Briancon (Injured), Monconduit (Injured), Boakye (Injured), Wadji (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
NICE VS SAINT-ETIENNE PREDICTION
Franck Haise is a manager that was coveted by many in Europe so it was a bit of a surprise that Nice managed to poach him when he departed Lens to be replaced by Will Still. The hosts haven’t been overly convincing so far this season but there are signs of growth and improvement. Saint-Etienne got up plying a defensive style of football and it has worked in parts of this season but it would still be a major surprise to see anything but a home win.
NICE VS SAINT-ETIENNE TIP: NICE TO WIN
