Tensions High as Nice Faces Marseille
Match Rescheduled After Brawl Led to Postponement
After a set of bizarre circumstances, Nice will play a rescheduled Matchweek 3 game vs Marseille behind closed doors in Troyes. Leading 1-0 with 15 minutes to play in the August match, Nice fans threw bottles and invaded the pitch, prompting a brawl that involved players and coaches.
The match was postponed for 90 minutes, with Marseille refusing to finish the match due to safety concerns. Nice was docked a point in the standings for the fans’ behavior and the match was rescheduled at a neutral location. Third and fourth in the table, respectively, Nice and Marseille make for a competitive match on paper.
As a result, the latest soccer odds list Nice listed as the slight favorites at +145.
Game: OGC Nice vs Olympique de Marseille
Location: Stade de l’Aube, Troyes, France
Date/Time: Wednesday, 3 p.m. ET
| Team | Goal Line | Moneyline | Over/Under | Team Total |
| Nice | pk (-135) | +145 | 2½ (-120o) | 1½ +120o/-150u |
| Marseille | pk (+105) | +190 | 2½ (-110u) | 1½ +155o/-190u |
| Draw | +245 |
Nice vs Marseille Betting Preview
Head to Head
Prior to the abandoned August match, Marseille had won seven of the last eight meetings. However, it is worth noting that Nice was just 15 minutes away from a second straight victory in the fixture.
In March, Nice cruised to a 3-0 victory over Marseille at home and narrowly lost the reverse fixture 3-2 just a month prior.
Resurgent Nice
Winners of three of its last four matches, Nice is steadily scaling the Ligue 1 table and has been one of the better recent soccer picks. Nice heroically came back from 2-0 down vs Lyon last weekend and substitute forward Evann Guessand grabbed a 90th-minute winner.
Tied for second in Ligue 1 with 20 goals, Nice poses a huge attacking threat and has three players with three or more goals. Winger Amine Gouiri is only 21 years old but he leads Nice with five goals and three assists. Striker Kasper Dolberg was a crucial piece for the Denmark team that made the Euro 2020 semifinals. He has scored three goals in just five starts for Nice.
Following an unexpected Ligue 1 triumph with Lille last season, manager Christophe Galtier is once again working his magic with a Nice side that finished ninth in 2020-21. This is a team that can compete with anyone in Ligue 1.
Marseille Attack Has Gone Missing
Marseille was able to hold PSG scoreless in France’s biggest rivalry. OM now holds the distinction of being just the second team to shut out the Parisian superteam this season. Marseille had a handful of chances in the scoreless draw and looked the part of a side contending for a Champions League berth.
Although Marseille has kept shutouts vs Lazio and PSG in consecutive matches, it also failed to score in both. That’s a concerning sign for a team that has found the net just eight times in its last eight games and has been shut out five times in its last seven.
With striker Arkadiusz Milik finding his fitness after a long-term injury, maybe Marseille’s fortunes will change in the coming weeks. In the meantime, it’s worth being cautious when considering making a bet online on Marseille. In any case, OM’s young defense has done an excellent job saving points for an often wasteful side.
Prediction
As much as Marseille has struggled to score goals, Nice has kept just one shutout in its last six matches. That’s following a four-game stretch to open the season in which Galtier’s side shut out all of its opponents.
I don’t think Marseille will be able to keep pace with Nice in a shootout and I am concerned about OM’s recent lack of goals. Taking Nice as a Pick’em at -135 in the sportsbook offers decent value, as I think Marseille could find itself once again on the back foot.
Pick: Nice Pk (-135)
Featured Picks
Related News
