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Nice
Ligue 1 | Gameweek 26
Mar 3, 2023 at 8pm UK
Stade Municipal du Ray
AJ Auxerre

Nice
1 - 1
Auxerre

Laborde (45+1')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Hein (36')
Zedadka (40')

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

Sports Mole previews Friday's Ligue 1 clash between Nice and Auxerre, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

In-form Nice will aim to extend their unbeaten run in Ligue 1 to nine games when they welcome relegation-threatened Auxerre to the Allianz Riviera on Friday night.

The hosts head into Friday's clash on the back of an impressive 3-0 victory at Monaco, while the visitors claimed a precious 1-0 away win against Lorient last time out.


Match preview

Nice's Gaetan Laborde celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates on February 5, 2023© Reuters

Nice continued their spectacular revival under Didier Digard with a statement victory over Monaco last weekend, netting three first-half goals without reply at the Stade Louis II.

Nigerian striker Terem Moffi bagged a brace inside 26 minutes before Khephren Thuram completed the scoring on the stroke of half time, firing Nice to a fifth victory in six Ligue 1 outings.

In fact, the Eagles have won six of their eight league matches since Digard replaced Lucien Favre as manager back in early January, and they have also conceded just two goals under Digard, keeping six clean sheets in the process.

On top of that, Nice have scored exactly three goals in three of their past four league games, dispatching Marseille and Ajaccio before getting the better of Monaco.

Having lost just one of their previous 16 league encounters – picking up nine wins and six draws along the way – Digard's men will move level on points with sixth-placed Lille if they notch another triumph on Friday.

Nice coach Didier Digard reacts on February 5, 2023© Reuters

When Auxerre registered a solitary victory in 17 league matches between late August and early February – suffering 13 defeats in the process – it looked as though the Burgundy outfit were destined for an immediate return to Ligue 2.

However, Christophe Pelissier's side have turned things around in recent weeks, chalking up a four-game unbeaten streak to ease relegation fears at the Stade Abbe-Deschamps.

Following seven successive Ligue 1 losses, Auxerre recorded back-to-back draws with Reims and Angers before defeating Lyon and Lorient, taking eight points from a possible 12 to move out of the relegation zone.

Granted, Auxerre only find themselves outside the bottom four thanks to their superior offensive record, but they appear to be heading in the right direction after a testing period.

It is worth noting, however, that Auxerre have managed to win just one of their previous five meetings with Nice across all competitions, suffering three defeats along the way.

Nice Ligue 1 form:

Auxerre Ligue 1 form:


Auxerre form (all competitions):



Team News

Khephren Thuram for Nice in November 2022© Reuters

With backup goalkeeper Marcin Bulka sidelined due to a shoulder injury, Kasper Schmeichel's position as Nice's first-choice shot-stopper is not under threat.

The hosts will also be without the injured trio of Youcef Atal, Joe Bryan and Nicolas Pepe on Friday, with the latter contributing eight goals across all competitions before developing a knee problem, while Aaron Ramsey could also miss out after picking up an issue last time out.

Having bagged a brace last time out, Lorient loanee Terem Moffi will continue in attack alongside Gaetan Laborde, who has netted three goals in his last six league outings.

As for Auxerre, new signing Elisha Owusu made just one appearance for the club before sustaining an Achilles injury, which is likely to keep him out for the remainder of the campaign.

Owusu has joined long-term absentee Theo Pellenard – who has yet to feature this season – on Auxerre's injury list.

Top scorer Gaetan Perrin has netted five goals in all competitions this term, while former Nottingham Forest forward Nuno Da Costa has contributed four goals and four assists, although Da Costa was absent from last weekend's matchday squad.

Nice possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Lotomba, Ndayishimiye, Todibo, Dante, Amraoui; Rosario, Boudaoui, Thuram; Laborde, Moffi

Auxerre possible starting lineup:
Radu; Raveloson, Jubal, Toure; Zedadka, Massengo, Toure, Mensah; Dembele, Perrin; Abline


SM words green background

We say: Nice 2-0 Auxerre

Regardless of Auxerre's mini-revival in recent weeks, we expect Nice to notch a seventh victory in nine league matches when Pelissier's side visit the Allianz Riviera.

Having racked up 17 goals across their previous eight Ligue 1 outings – in addition to six clean sheets – Nice look set to secure another comfortable win on Friday.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Nice vs Auxerre

Nice
87.6%
Draw
6.2%
Auxerre
6.2%
97
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG26178162233959
2Brest26138536201647
3MonacoMonaco26137647361146
4Lille261110537231443
5Nice2612772720743
6Lens2612683527842
7Marseille26109740281239
8Rennes2610974031939
9Reims26115103435-138
10Lyon26104123040-1034
11Toulouse2678112936-729
12StrasbourgStrasbourg2678112839-1129
13Le HavreLe Havre2669112633-727
14Montpellier HSCMontpellier2669113140-926
15Lorient2668123549-1426
16NantesNantes2674152441-1725
17Metz2665152339-1623
18Clermont2648141943-2420


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