Nice take on Montpellier HSC at the Allianz Riviera on Wednesday night, in a Ligue 1 encounter between two sides currently sitting in mid-table.
Les Aiglons are in 11th place, four points clear of the visitors, who have acquired 17 points in their first 17 games.
Match preview
© Reuters
Nice enjoyed a very impressive 2021-22 season, finishing fifth in Ligue 1 to qualify for the Europa Conference League, but their progress in Europe appears to have hampered their league form somewhat.
Owing to a poor record in front of goal, the side previously coached by Lucien Favre - who has now been sacked and temporarily replaced by Didier Digard - are now 12 points off the European places, so they will need a remarkable turnaround in the second half of the season if they are going to pose a threat near the top again.
With just 16 goals scored in 17 games, Les Aiglons are the league's joint-second lowest scorers, but they have managed to keep it tight at the back, boasting the fifth-best defensive record.
Since returning from the World Cup break, Nice have faced two difficult opponents in Lens and Rennes, and they only managed to pick up one point, against opponents both sitting in the top four.
Those results may have been expected, but Les Aiglons will be particularly disappointed by their shock exit from the Coupe de France last time out, losing 1-0 away at Le Puy F43 Auvergne, a team that plays in the third tier, which triggered the exit of Favre.
Montpellier are faring near enough how they would have been expected to, given that they finished in 14th place last season, and their matches have largely been very different to Nice's, with far more goals.
La Paillade have scored 27 goals in Ligue 1 up to this point, although seven of these came in a 7-0 battering of Brest at the back end of August.
After winning three of his first five matches, Olivier Dall'Oglio appeared to be getting off to a good start as manager, but he was dismissed in October after a run of five losses in six games.
The new man in the dugout, Romain Pitau, has managed to steady the ship somewhat and dug out a good win away at sixth-placed FC Lorient at the end of December, although his side have started to struggle again in recent weeks.
In their first game of 2023, Montpellier lost 2-1 at home to Marseille, and following that they were knocked out of the Coupe de France against lower-league opposition, losing 2-1 away at Ligue 2 side Pau, so it has not been the greatest of starts.
Team News
© Reuters
After his side's very disappointing Coupe de France defeat in the last match, Digard could ring the changes and bring some of the more regular first-team players back into the starting lineup.
Ross Barkley and Nicolas Pepe are likely to play provider for returning striker Gaetan Laborde, who was rested for the last match, and Jordan Lotomba could return at right-wing back.
Digard will not be able to call upon defender Youcef Atal, who misses out with an ankle injury, while striker Andy Delort and goalkeeper Marcin Bulka are not expected to return for a few more weeks.
Montpellier also have some injury problems to contend with, as centre-back Pedro Mendes has a hamstring injury that will keep him out until later in the month, and long-term absentee Theo Sainte-Luce is also not available for selection in the defence.
Elye Wahi was not in the squad for the away trip to Pau, a decision that the manager may regret after his side's exit from the Coupe de France, as he is their top scorer in Ligue 1.
As such, the 20-year-old forward should return to the frontline, while Tevi Savanier is poised to return in attacking midfield, after scoring in his last two games.
Nice possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Rosario, Dante, Todibo; Lotomba, Lemina, Thuram, Bard; Pepe, Barkley, Laborde
Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Omlin; Sacko, Jullien, Esteve, Maouassa; Ferri, Leroy, Savanier; Nordin, Wahi, Mavididi
We say: Nice 0-1 Montpellier HSC
Nice have been out of sorts recently, and they have a very poor record at home, picking up just nine points in their opening eight matches at the Allianz Riviera.
Montpellier have also struggled, but they managed to win their last away match in Ligue 1, so we think that they could make it two on the spin on Wednesday in a closely-contested game.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Dominic Lund
