Match Overview
The second-round fixture of Ligue 1 between Nice and Auxerre is scheduled for August 23rd at the Allianz Riviera stadium. This preview provides a comprehensive look at the Nice – Auxerre encounter, including our prediction, betting odds, and essential statistics.Nice: Team Analysis
The club from the French Riviera began their new Ligue 1 season with a home defeat to Toulouse, losing 0-1. This result extends Nice’s streak of decisive matches in Ligue 1 to 6 (4 wins, 2 losses). Notably, Nice concluded the previous championship with three consecutive home victories, including a dominant 6-0 thrashing of Brest in their final match. Overall, the club showcased excellent home form last season, finishing third in the home league table, with only PSG and Monaco performing better. Nice accumulated 37 points on their home turf, remaining unbeaten in 15 out of 17 matches (11 wins, 4 draws), and conceding the fewest goals (15).Nice: Key Statistics
- The club has won 9 of its last 13 home matches in Ligue 1 (1 draw, 3 losses).
- Only one team managed to score in 7 of Nice’s last 10 home league games.
- Nice has conceded in 10 of its last 12 matches in this tournament.
Nice: Projected Lineup (3-4-3)*
Yvann Diouf – Kodjo Oppong, Djuma Ba, Antoine Mendy – Melvin Bard, Hicham Boudaoui, Jonathan Clauss, Tom Louchet – Badredine Bouanani, Isak Jansson, Terem Moffi.Auxerre: Team Analysis
In contrast, Auxerre started their Ligue 1 campaign with a victory, overcoming Lorient 1-0. Prior to this, the club had been winless in 3 consecutive matches in the tournament (1 draw, 2 losses). Throughout the entire previous championship, Auxerre managed to secure only 11 wins from 34 matches (9 draws, 14 losses). It’s important to note that their away performance in the previous Ligue 1 season was modest, accumulating 15 points compared to 27 at home, with a goal difference of 24:34. Significantly, Auxerre conceded twice as many goals away from home as they did on their own ground.Auxerre: Key Statistics
- The club’s scoring streak in the league has reached 11 matches.
- Away from home, the team has avoided defeat in 5 of their last 7 Ligue 1 away fixtures (3 wins, 2 draws).
- At least 3 goals were scored in 5 of Auxerre’s last 7 matches in the French top flight.
Auxerre: Projected Lineup (4-5-1)*
Donovan Léon – Clément Akpa, Francisco Sierralta, Gabriel Osho, Marvin Senaya – Ibrahim Osman, Kévin Danois, Elisha Owusu, Josué Casimir, Gideon Mensah – Lassine Sinayoko.Team Absences
Defender Sinaly Diomande and midfielder Oussama El Azzouzi will miss the match due to injuries.Referee Profile
Jérémy Stinat (France)
Referee Statistics
Matches officiated – 18 (Ligue 1, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 17;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.9;
Red cards shown – 2;
Average fouls per match – 22;
Penalties awarded – 33%.
Match Prediction: Nice vs Auxerre
The hosts continue to face significant squad challenges due to a string of injuries, which inevitably impacts their performance. In the first round, Nice not only failed to secure three points at home against modest Toulouse but actually succumbed to defeat in an evenly contested match. The upcoming opponent for Franck Haise’s side is roughly on par with Toulouse, having even accumulated the same number of points in the previous championship. Therefore, I do not anticipate this match will be any easier for Nice, weakened by the absence of many key players. Even with a more optimal squad, the Riviera club frequently conceded goals towards the end of the last championship, failing to keep a clean sheet in 9 out of their last 11 rounds. And in the opening fixture of the new Ligue 1 season, Nice conceded once again, despite their upcoming opponent proving to be considerably more prolific than Toulouse recently. Auxerre is currently on an 11-match scoring streak in the French championship, a run during which they have netted against Nice itself, as well as defensively solid Lille, Lens, and even champions PSG.Recommended Bet
I am confident that the visitors will find the net in the upcoming match. My prediction is Auxerre Individual Total Over 0.5 (ITB 0.5) with odds of 1.53
Mark Thompson