Nice Aiming for Big Stage
Even though PSG won the title several weeks ago, Ligue 1 hasn’t lost its appeal. With two games left, only the Parisians have secured a spot in the Group Stage of the UEFA Champions League. Four other teams are still in the race to win the other ticket. Third place also qualifies for the playoff round of the UCL.
Nice is one of those teams still in the race. The Eaglets, who won their last three games by a 6-2 aggregate, must defeat Lille to keep hope alive. The Mastiffs, who won last season’s Ligue 1 title, are fighting to finish in the top 10.
According to the soccer odds, it should be an easy game for host Nice (-135) on Saturday, but I’m not so sure about that.
Let’s check the latest news, stats, injury reports, and Ligue 1 odds for Nice vs Lille. We’ve plenty of soccer predictions for you to consider.
Nice: Missed Opportunity
Nice is sitting in fourth place, but losing their last two games could make the Eaglets fall out of the top five. In other words, they could lose everything, even the opportunity to play in the UEFA Europa League.
Speaking of the UEL, the Eaglets recently missed a huge opportunity to secure a spot in that tournament. After a great run in the domestic cup, which included eliminating PSG and Marseille, Nice lost in the Final to Nantes. The Eaglets dominated the game, but Nantes won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Ludovic Blas. As Cup champions, Nantes will represent Ligue 1 in the next edition of the UEL.
After that bitter defeat, the Eaglets bounced back with a 4-2 victory in Ligue 1 against Saint-Etienne. They overcame a two-goal deficit in the second half with Andy Delort, who scored twice, as the hero. Melvin Bard and Hicham Boudaoui also scored.
That was Nice’s 11th victory at home — three more than on the road. In fact, the Eaglets haven’t lost in their last six games at Allianz Riviera (5-1-0). They finished with a clean sheet in three of those games, including a 1-0 victory over PSG. They were betting online underdogs for that one at +375.
Nice comes in as the favorite at -135. That means you’ll need to invest $135 in order to win $100. The total payout would be $235.
Lille: Better Luck Next Year
After winning the Ligue 1 title for the first time in 10 years in 2021, expectations around Lille were high. Yes, PSG always dominated the Las Vegas odds to win this season’s title, but Lille was a strong candidate for runner-up.
Well, the Mastiffs couldn’t handle the pressure and aren’t even in the race to finish in the top five. After losing four of their last five games, they’re fighting to finish in the top 10. Eighth place is the best scenario for them.
Most recently, they lost 2-1 to AS Monaco at home. The Mastiffs won possession with 52 percent and finished with two more shots on target, but the visitors were more effective. Angel Gomes came off the bench to score Lille’s goal.
It seems like Lille is a basket case, but not so fast. The former Ligue 1 champions’ roster includes Jonathan David, Timothy Weah and Jonathan Bamba, three explosive players. David is the team’s top scorer with 13 goals.
There’s also the fact that the Mastiffs only lost three of their last 10 games on the road. That includes wins over Strasbourg and Lyon, both better positioned. They also defeated the reigning domestic cup champions. Overall, they scored in eight of those games and finished with a clean sheet three times.
Despite a poor season, playing without any pressure makes Lille a tempting online gambling underdog, especially at +330. If they pull off the stunner, your payout would be $430 (based on a $100 bet).
Nice vs Lille Head-to-Head
- Previous Matches: 105
- Nice Victories: 38 (141 goals)
- Lille Victories: 35 (137 goals)
- Draws: 32
Nice had no trouble defeating Lille in their first meetings. The Eaglets assaulted Stade Pierre Mauroy and came away with a 4-0 victory. Kasper Dolberg was the Man of the Match after scoring two goals. Boudaoui and Amine Gouiri also scored.
That was Nice’s fourth victory over Lille in their last 10 encounters (4-4-2). During that span, both failed to score twice.
Nice vs Lille Game Information
- Date: Saturday, May 14
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Allianz Riviera, Nice
- Nice vs Lille Streaming: fuboTV
Nice vs Lille Betting Lines
| Team | Handicap | Moneyline | Total | Team Total |
| Nice | -½ -135 | -135 | 2½ -125o | 1½ -130o
1½ Evu |
| Lille | +½ +105 | +330 | 2½ -105u | ½ -210o
½ +165u |
| Draw | +315 |
Nice vs Lille Prediction
Nice is the better team, but I think Lille will put up a better fight this time. Several players will have their contracts expire, so they must give their best to remain with the team next season. It won’t be enough to pull off the upset, though. Especially because Renato Sanches and Burak Yilmaz remain suspended. Therefore, the recommendation is that you include the total going over in your soccer picks. Offensively, it will be an interesting matchup between Delort and David.
Score prediction: Nice 2, Lille 1
