Matchday 14 in Ligue 1 between Nice and Le Havre will take place on December 7 at the Allianz Riviera Stadium. Nice vs. Le Havre: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Referee: François Letexier (France)
Matches – 19 (Ligue 1, 2023/24–2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 79;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.2;
Red cards shown – 2;
Average fouls per match – 22;
Penalties – 11%.
Predicted lineups for Nice vs. Le Havre
Nice (3-4-3): Marcin Bulka – Moise Bombito, Pablo Rosario, Mohamed Abdel Monem – Tom Loche, Hicham Boudaoui, Tanguy Ndombele, Yaël Nandju – Sofiane Diop, Evann Guessand, Mohamed-Ali Cho.
Le Havre (3-4-3): Arthur Desmas – Gauthier Lloris, Etienne Kinkoue, Timothee Pembele – Christopher Operi, Abdoulaye Toure, Daler Kuzyaev, Josue Casimir – Issa Soumare, Emmanuel Sabbi, Andre Ayew.
Each team's starting lineup is based on their previous match in this tournament.
Nice
The club's eight-match unbeaten run in Ligue 1 (4 wins, 4 draws) was snapped with a heavy 1-4 defeat to Lyon in their last outing. However, Nice's scoring streak in the league continues, now reaching seven matches. Despite this, the team has dropped one spot in the Ligue 1 standings, now sitting in sixth place. It's also worth noting that Franck Haise's side is one of only two clubs in the current championship, alongside PSG, to remain unbeaten at home (3 wins, 3 draws).
They are facing significant squad issues, with defenders Dante, Jonathan Clauss, Ali Abdi, Antoine Mendy, Youssouf Ndayishimiye, midfielder Morgan Sanson, and forwards Jeremie Boga, Terem Moffi all unavailable due to injuries.
- Both teams scored in 6 of Nice's last 7 Ligue 1 matches.
- The team's scoring streak at home in this tournament stands at 11 matches.
- At least three goals have been scored in 8 of the club's last 11 home games in the French championship.
Le Havre
The club suffered its ninth defeat of the current Ligue 1 season (4 wins), losing 0-1 to Angers in their previous match. As a result, Le Havre remains the only club in the current championship yet to draw a match. Following the defeat in the last round, the team has again dropped into the relegation playoff zone in the elite French division, now in 16th place. Additionally, Le Havre continues to rank last among the league's most prolific clubs, having scored only 10 times.
- The team's uncompromising run in the championship totals 16 matches (5 wins, 11 losses).
- One opponent failed to score in 8 of Le Havre's last Ligue 1 matches.
- No more than two goals were scored in 6 of the club's last 7 away matches in the elite French league.
Nice vs. Le Havre: Match Prediction
Franck Haise's side is entering a challenging period, as numerous squad losses have already started to impact the team's performance, leading to two consecutive 1-4 defeats against Rangers in the Europa League and Lyon in the league. When all key players were available, Nice was performing excellently in Ligue 1 and had gone eight matches unbeaten before their recent loss. However, they should still be able to handle their upcoming opponent despite the current issues.
Le Havre is one of the main underdogs of the current championship and is a candidate for relegation. The club rightfully sits in the lower part of the standings and has made the worst impression among all teams in terms of attacking play. However, Nice is not currently strong enough to comfortably defeat even such a weak opponent. Therefore, I disagree with the bookmakers, who have made the hosts such clear favorites. Yes, the Côte d'Azur club is capable of winning, but it's unlikely to be a comprehensive victory. Even before the squad issues began, the team did not have a significant advantage over opponents, as the statistics show. Nice has not won by more than one goal in their last 8 Ligue 1 matches.
Le Havre, on the other hand, has won with a handicap of 1.5 goals in 4 of their last 5 league matches. I believe that the visitors can avoid a heavy defeat this time, considering the opponent's problems. Therefore, my prediction is Le Havre with a handicap (+1.5).
