As the Ligue 1 2025/26 season gets into full stride, the clash at Allianz Riviera between Nice and Nantes offers more than meets the eye. Both teams come into this encounter level on points yet with contrasting recent fortunes, and for managers Franck Haise and Luís Castro, early momentum will be absolutely critical. Can Nice reassert their home dominance after a shock defeat, or will Nantes seize the chance to leapfrog a stuttering rival? The strategic choices from both touchlines, especially given Nice’s fluid 3-4-2-1 against Nantes’s evolving 3-4-3, are set to capture the tactical tussles Ligue 1 fans relish.
Key figures to keep an eye on are Terem Moffi for Nice, whose work rate and forward play threaten to turn a game in an instant, and Mostafa Mohamed of Nantes, a rare bright spark during a testing stretch for the Canaries. With both sides seeking to kickstart their campaign, their influence could be decisive in a match finely balanced on current form.
A hot stat? Nice have attempted a robust 45 shots in their last five matches over double that of Nantes underscoring their attacking ambition even in the face of inconsistent results.
| 🏆 Tournament: | Ligue 1 2025/26 Regular Season |
| 🏟 Venue: | Allianz Riviera, Nice |
| 🗓️ Date: | 13.09.2025 |
| ⏰ Time: | 18:00 CEST |
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Nice vs Nantes prediction
Looking through the form guide and examining underlying metrics, the best value prediction is a Nice victory. Despite their recent stutter a jarring home defeat to Le Havre the hosts’ attacking output (45 shots in five games, compared to Nantes’ 18) and more creative enterprise simply cannot be overlooked. Nantes, on the other hand, seem to struggle in the final third, with just a single goal scored in their last five matches, despite initially resilient performances.
Nice play with a proactive approach, prioritising possession (1,795 passes with a 85 percent completion rate across their five last games) and generating corners (25 in five). This style often draws fouls but has not resulted in excessive bookings (10 yellows, 0 reds), while Nantes, although a touch tidier discipline-wise (only 4 yellows in the same span), have struggled to impose themselves and create meaningful chances.
Expect Nice’s front three to apply constant pressure, while Nantes will try to suffocate spaces. Still, given recent trends, it’s hard not to back Nice with the confidence of their underlying data and their positional maturity under Haise.
| 🔥Hot Tip: | Nice -1 Asian Handicap |
| ⚽Total Goals: | Under 2.5 |
| 💥Both Teams To Score: | No |
| 🎯Total Corners: | Over 8.5 |
Team Analysis
Nice’s form: It’s been a rollercoaster spell for the Eaglets – after a promising win away at Auxerre (3-1), Franck Haise’s unit came crashing down at home with a 1-3 defeat to Le Havre. Despite heavy attacking numbers the most shots taken in Ligue 1 in that spell the team’s conversion rate has been their undoing. Nevertheless, players like Terem Moffi and Jérémie Boga remain ever-threatening, and the side’s movement between the lines, particularly in their preferred 3-4-2-1, can cause backlines no end of trouble.
Nantes’ outlook: If Nice have endured a mixed bag, Nantes have found goals utterly elusive. Their last match was a drab 1-0 home defeat to Strasbourg, squeezing just five shots and posting a modest pass accuracy. Luís Castro’s troops ground out a lone goal-win over Auxerre but have otherwise shown a defensive shape that, while occasionally sturdy, provides little in offensive invention. Still, a defence marshalled by Kelvin Amian and the presence of Mostafa Mohamed up top ensures opponents can never rest easy.
Most recent Head-to-Head Matches
| Statistic | Nice | Nantes |
|---|---|---|
| Total shots | 20 | 16 |
| Free kicks | 21 | 18 |
| Corner kicks | 13 | 9 |
| Total fouls | 30 | 27 |
| Pass accuracy (%) | 82 | 77 |
| Interceptions | 14 | 12 |
| Offsides | 5 | 3 |
🚨Read our full Nice vs Nantes stats for more analysis.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Nice the favourite
- Moneyline Nice 1.68 | Nantes 5.05
- Draw 3.80
- Over/Under Over 2.5 2.05 | Under 2.5 1.70
- BTTS (both teams to score) Yes 2.15 | No 1.65
The odds heavily favour Nice, reflective of both their superior world ranking and the chasm in overall goal threat this term. The moneyline is clearly skewed due to Nice’s sharper attack and home advantage. Even so, under 2.5 goals carries appeal, with both teams’ defensive setups and the recent lack of big scorelines. BTTS ‘No’ owes to Nantes’ ongoing attacking struggles and the likelihood they’ll sit deep and frustrate.
You can find all our predictions for today’s games on our football betting tips page.
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Possible Starting Lineups
Nice possible starting eleven
- GK: Yehvann Diouf
- DF: Melvin Bard, Juma Bah, Antoine Mendy, Kojo Peprah Oppong
- MF: Hicham Boudaoui, Tom Louchet
- MF: Jonathan Clauss, Salis Abdul Samed
- FW: Terem Moffi, Jérémie Boga
This lineup reflects Nice’s go-to 3-4-2-1, packing the backline with solid presences in Bard, Bah, Mendy, and Oppong, all frequent starters. The midfield double-pivot of Boudaoui and Louchet brings a balanced blend of dynamism and control, supplemented by the creative Clauss and box-to-box Samed out wide. Up front, Moffi and Boga are poised to spearhead a mobile, high-press attack, both capable of shifting the tie in a heartbeat. The expectation is for Nice to seek width and rapid transitions, utilising their energy and passing rhythm.
Nantes possible starting eleven

- GK: Anthony Lopes
- DF: Kelvin Amian, Nicolas Cozza, Chidozie Awaziem, Tylel Tati
- MF: Johann Lepenant, Francis Coquelin, Hyeok-kyu Kwon, Hong Hyunseok
- FW: Mostafa Mohamed, Bahereba Guirassy
Nantes are most likely to reprise their recent 3-4-3, albeit with notable flexibility Amian and Awaziem provide a hard edge at the back, while Coquelin and Lepenant look to anchor the middle. On the flanks, Kwon and Hyunseok offer some guile and graft. Mohamed and Guirassy up front represent Nantes’ best hopes, their spatial awareness vital if the Canaries are to break out and counter. Defensive discipline will be paramount with Nantes likely ceding possession, hoping Mohamed’s intelligence brings rewards on the break.
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Nice. Source: Official Facebook. Edited photo
The Verdict
From an analytical standpoint and as a fan attuned to the ebb and flow of French football this fixture feels made for a Nice response. Their recent numbers, particularly in terms of attacking output and ball retention, stand in stark contrast to a Nantes setup still struggling to hit their stride. My main pick is a Nice win, backed by a convincing margin if their midfield finds rhythm early. Expect Nantes to make a fist of it on the counter, but the overall trajectory suggests Nice’s quality and structure will prevail in a measured, if not high-scoring, affair. This could well prove an inflection point for both teams’ seasons as they search for consistency and momentum.
