Preview: Nice vs. Montpellier HSC - prediction, team news, lineups

Nice play host to Montpellier HSC on Sunday afternoon looking to strengthen their position in second place in the Ligue 1 standings.

While the visitors begin the next batch of fixtures in 11th position, they currently sit just three points adrift of fifth-placed Rennes.

Match preview

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When Christophe Galtier took charge at the beginning of the season, Nice's primary target would have been earning a return to European football for next season.

However, with each victory that they record, expectation levels will continue to rise, and there is genuine hope that they can finish the campaign in the top three.

Clean sheets remain an issue with just one being recorded in eight attempts, but Galtier will not mind while his side can produce conclusions such as the one at Angers.

Andy Delort's last-minute winner earned a 2-1 victory, just a week on from Nice scoring three times in the final 10 minutes to stun rivals Lyon.

With a favourable triple-header to come, Galtier will want to collect as many points as possible before the trip to face Paris Saint-Germain on December 1.

From Montpellier's perspective, they travel to the South of France with little more than hope having failed to register an away win all season.

They still possess a certain level of confidence after successive home wins over Lens and Nantes, both of which came with clean sheets.

Nevertheless, Olivier Dall'Oglio's team will remain in mid-table side unless they can end their poor return on their travels, although that should be put into context having already made visits to Lille, PSG and Monaco.

Seven of Montpellier's last nine goals have been scored after half time, a statistic which suggests that a frantic finish may decide the game at Allianz Riveira.

Team News

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Galtier may see no reason to make any changes to the Nice XI which started the comeback victory at Angers.

Hichem Boudaoui is most likely to come back into the team, the Algerian midfielder having begun the last two contests among the replacements.

Lucas Da Cunha could drop out of the team if Galtier wishes to hand a recall to the 22-year-old.

On the back of netting his first goal of the season as a substitute last week, 18-year-old Sepe Elye Wahi will hope to get the nod over Valere Germain.

Barring any late fitness issues, the rest of the team could stay the same, with Teji Savanier looking to avoid a caution which would see him suspended for the next game.

Nice possible starting lineup:

Benitez; Atal, Todibo, Dante, Bard; Boudaoui, Rosario, Lemina, Kamara; Delort, Gouiri

Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:

Omlin; Souquet, Esteve, Sakho, Ristic; Ferri, Chotard; Mollet, Savanier, Mavididi; Wahi

We say: Nice 2-1 Montpellier HSC

With Montpellier seemingly on an upward curve, this could be an interesting contest. Nevertheless, we cannot back against the home side, who we are backing to claim another victory by a narrow margin.