Nice vs Toulouse Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 French Ligue 1
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Overlooked by owners INEOS in favour of Manchester United, Nice started the season with a loss to newly-promoted Auxerre. Back at the Allianz Riviera, they take on a Toulouse side that started with a goalless draw against Nantes.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 25th August, 2024 - UK – 4:00pm / US ET – 11:00am / US PT – 8:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TBC / US – beIN Sports or beIN Sports de Espanol
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – TBC / US – Fubo or Fanatiz
NICE PREVIEW: NEGLECTED NICE
With INEOS embarking upon their first summer transfer window at Manchester United, Nice have perhaps taken a back seat in that ownership model and that was maybe shown by the departure of key defender Jean-Clair Todibo on a season-long loan deal to West Ham United earlier this month.
They began their campaign with a shock defeat at Stade de l’Abbe-Deschamps on the opening day of the season against newly-promoted Auxerre. Mohamed-Ali Cho had opened the scoring for Nice in that game before Rayan Raveloson equalised just before half-time and then Lasso Coulibaly scored a winning goal deep into second-half stoppage-time.
TOULOUSE PREVIEW: GETTING BACK TO BEING SMART
Under the same ownership of AC Milan in RedBird Capital and with Damien Comolli as their president, Toulouse have been a forward-thinking club but had to deal with UEFA Europa League football last year ahead of schedule as a result of winning the 2022/23 Coupe de France in their first season back in the French top-flight.
They are expected to push towards the top-half this season after steadying to an 11th placed finish under Carlos Martinez Novell last season. However, despite being the better team for large parts of their opening encounter with Nantes at Stadium de Toulouse last weekend, they were frustratingly head to a goalless draw on the opening day.
NICE TEAM NEWS: MITIGATING FACTORS
In mitigation for new Nice boss Franck Haise, he does have significant injury issues that will be problematic and especially in attacking areas with Haise having to adapt.
Sofiane Diop is among those sidelined for the southerners as well as Ivory Coast international Jeremie Boga and striker Terem Moffi. There are also issues with Morgan Sanson and Youssouf Ndayishimiye both sidelined, too.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Bulka; Mendy, Rosario, Dante; Clauss, Boudaoui, Ndombele, Brahimi; Cho, Guessand, Laborde
UNAVAILABLE: Ndayishimiye (Injured), Louchet (Injured), Sanson (Injured), Diop (Injured), Boga (Injured), Moffi (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
TOULOUSE TEAM NEWS: UNCHANGED TOULOUSE
Carlos Martinez Novell remains without Shavy Babicka for this weekend’s trip to the Allianz Riviera and he will be keen on ensuring he remains unchanged for this weekend as they try to grow into the season.
The Spanish coach opted for a switch in system from what he normally goes with and went with a 3-4-3 system with a front three of Zakaria Aboukhlal, Frank Magri and Yann Gboho.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Restes; Cresswell, Costa, Nicolaisen; Kamanzi, Cristian Casseres Jr, Schmidt, Donnum; Aboukhlal, Magri, Gboho
UNAVAILABLE: Babicka (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
NICE VS TOULOUSE PREDICTION
Nice do appear to have the personnel to match Franck Haise’s preferred style of football but his counter-attacking 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 is probably undermined by Tanguy Ndombele’s lack of positional discipline in the midfield. They now face a Toulouse side that are easing their way into the campaign but will be encouraged by last weekend’s performance. This one may end up being a surprisingly entertaining game for the neutral.
NICE VS TOULOUSE TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
