Preview: Nice vs. Angers - prediction, team news, lineups

Nice entertain Angers in Ligue 1 on Sunday, with the hosts looking to bounce back after two consecutive defeats.

Angers, meanwhile, are flying high in eighth position in the table.

Match preview

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Having sacked Patrick Vieira in December, Adrian Ursea has failed to have the impact Nice would have been hoping for, with last season's fifth-placed outfit sliding to 14th in the table after Wednesday's 2-1 defeat to Monaco.

In fairness, while losing a Derby de la Cote d'Azur is always painful, there is no disgrace in losing to Monaco at present, with Ben Yedder's brace helping his side to their sixth consecutive league win.

Pierre Lees Melou had levelled proceedings two minutes after the half-time interval, with Nice controlling possession for much of the game but struggling to break down their South of France rivals.

If they can perform as well against Angers, there is every chance Ursea's side will gain a huge three points.

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Angers, meanwhile, are performing above expectations once again, to the extent that Wednesday's 0-0 draw at Reims may have been considered a disappointing result in the eyes of Stephane Moulin.

In truth it was a drab affair, with both sides mustering only two shots on target each across the 90 minutes.

However, clean sheets have been at a premium for Moulin's side this season, with Wednesday's their first since a 0-0 draw at Saint Etienne in December.

Given that they are only five points behind fifth-placed Rennes, Angers remain in the hunt for European football, but in truth a top-half finish would be a solid achievement for a club of their size and ambition. Another clean sheet at Nice on Sunday would be a good return, too.

Nice Ligue 1 form: LDLWLL

Angers Ligue 1 form: WLLLWD

Team News

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Nice are likely to be without Youcef Atal and Danilo Barbosa due to thigh injuries, while Dante and Jeff Reine-Adelaide are out for the season with serious knee issues.

Ursea is likely to go with the same XI which was unfortunate to lose against Monaco.

Angers will travel to Nice without Angelo Fulgini, Stephane Bahoken, Rachid Alioui and Enzo Ebosse due to injury.

Sofiane Boufal could start to help provide more creativity having returned from injury from the substitutes' bench at Reims.

Nice possible starting lineup: Benitez; Lotomba, Todibo, Saliba, Kamara; Schneiderlin, Claude Marice, Lees-Melou; Ndoye, Dolberg, Gouiri

Angers possible starting lineup: Bernardoni; Bamba, Pavlovic, Thomas, Doumbia; Mangani, Coulibaly; Boufal, Capelle, Thioub; Diony

We say: Nice 1-1 Angers

Nice have won only two of their 11 home games this season, so Angers will fancy their chances of gaining a positive result.

The two sides are pretty evenly matched, though, with a draw the most likely outcome and one which both managers would not be too disappointed with.