Nice v Lorient

Nice vs Lorient Preview

Nice picked up a point in a 0-0 draw away from home at Reims last time out in the French top flight but although Nice still occupy fifth place in the Ligue 1 standings, the hosts have made hard work of securing a European spot for next season in recent months, while Lorient slipped to a third defeat in four games in the domestic top flight in their previous match as the visitors were handed a 2-0 loss away from home at Montpellier.

Nice find themselves barely clinging onto fifth spot in the Ligue 1 table after posting just one win from their last nine games overall, that being a 3-1 win away from home at sixth placed Lens whom they hold a slender one-point cushion over, but the hosts have also been dealt a number of defeats within these last nine matches as well.

Five losses in the shape of reverses at the hands of Monaco, Lyon, Toulouse, Montpellier and Nantes have thrown Nice's credentials of securing a place in Europe for next season into a fair amount of doubt and Francesco Farioli's side have also experienced a bit of turbulence at home as well, losing three of their last four games at their Allianz Riviera.

Lorient's situation down near the bottom of the Ligue 1 table has not got any better as the visitors have lost three of their last four games overall, slipping to defeats at the hands of Lyon, Brest and Montpellier respectively, leaving Regis le Bris' side sitting third from bottom in the table and occupying the relegation play-off spot.

The visitors did enjoy a brief flurry of success beforehand as they registered three wins on the trot thanks to victories against Metz, Reims and Strasbourg respectively, but since that little purple patch of form, results have gone south for Lorient.

The bigger picture shows Lorient have managed to pick up just four wins from their previous 19 matches overall in the domestic top flight and having been dealt no fewer than 11 losses within this period, it's hard to see how Lorient can get anything from this upcoming trip to the Allianz Riviera on Friday night.

Nice v Lorient Verdict

With just one point now separating fifth placed Nice from sixth placed Lens and five points behind fourth placed Lille, Nice know they have a golden opportunity to not only make up ground on fourth spot but to also open up a larger lead over the chasing pack.

Nice are unbeaten in their last four meetings against Lorient and although recent results have left a lot to be desired where Francesco Farioli's side have been concerned, Nice should still possess enough quality to take the spoils here in this Friday night encounter.

Therefore, our main bet will be Nice win @ 1.53

Other side bets worth considering:

Nice win & Under 2.5 goals @ 3.50

Correct Score: Nice 2-0 @ 6.50