Nice vs Angers Prediction

Right then, let's have a proper look at this Ligue 1 clash between Nice and Angers. Both sides are having a right old time of it this season, sitting just one point apart in mid-table with Nice in 10th and Angers in 12th. But blimey, you've got to look at the form here.

Nice are in absolute freefall, mate. They've lost their last FOUR games on the spin! Getting battered 3-1 by Lorient, stuffed 3-0 by Porto in Europe, hammered 5-1 at home by Marseille, and losing 2-1 to Metz. That's proper relegation form, that is. They're shipping goals for fun - 2.2 per game on average and only one clean sheet in their last ten matches. Their home form ain't much better either - conceding 2.5 goals per home game. Ouch!

Angers, while not exactly setting the world alight, look a bit more solid. They've got 3 wins, 2 draws, and 5 losses in their last ten. More importantly, they're much tighter at the back - only letting in 1.4 goals per game and keeping 3 clean sheets. They did lose 1-2 to Lens last time out, but before that they beat Toulouse 0-1 away and Auxerre 2-0 at home.

Head-to-head, Nice historically have the wood over Angers - 6 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss in 9 meetings. At home, it's even better for Nice with a 3-0-1 record. But that's history, innit? Current form's what matters, and Nice's current form is shocking.

Looking at the stats, Nice are scoring at home (1.75 per game) but their defence is like a sieve. Angers barely score away (0.60 per game) but are a bit more solid defensively. The goal expectancy suggests about 3.32 goals in this match, which points towards both teams getting on the scoresheet.

The odds have Nice as slight favorites at 1.91, which seems a bit generous given their current form. Both teams to score is priced at 1.75, which looks interesting given Nice's defensive woes and the fact that both teams have scored in 70% of Nice's recent games.

Key Points:

• Nice have lost their last 4 games in a row

• Nice are conceding 2.5 goals per home game

• Angers have kept 3 clean sheets in their last 10 games

• Both teams have scored in 70% of Nice's recent matches

• Nice historically dominate this fixture (6 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss)

Given Nice's defensive shambles and Angers' relative solidity at the back, I'm expecting both teams to find the net here. Nice's defence is that bad that even goal-shy Angers should get chances.