Soccer France Ligue 1 Prediction

Nice vs Clermont - Match Preview

⚽ 28 April 2023 - 19:00 GMT +0

After Strasbourg’s 2-0 win at Reims last weekend made it consecutive victories for the first time this Ligue 1 campaign, meaning they find themselves out of the four-team relegation zone on goal difference. Another quick start could be the route to a first run of three league wins in over two years, considering all their seven wins so far have seen them enjoy a half-time lead!

Travelling teams have struggled to deal with Strasbourg’s tempo at Stade de la Meinau since early February, with Le Racing claiming all of their four home league wins in 2022/23 across their previous five outings here (L1). All those victories may have come against current bottom-half teams, but a 2-1 win away at Lyon in mid-January should prove that another positive result is anything but impossible.

Visiting Lyon was on the cusp of extending their unbeaten run to eight league games on Sunday, but a last-minute own goal saw them slump to a 2-1 home loss against Marseille, a defeat that certainly did not please their new American owner John Textor who was present in the stadium. That loss dented Lyon's European aspirations, with a six-point gap to fifth-placed Lille at the end of the last round looking increasingly difficult to overturn.

Les Gones have enjoyed their recent league trips at least, suffering only one loss across their previous nine away matches (W6, D2), a run that includes a 1-0 win at league-leaders PSG earlier this month. The omens look good for Lyon on the H2H front as well, squaring off against a Strasbourg side they’ve beaten in eight of the last 11 H2Hs held here (D2, L1).

📋 Players to watch: Habib Diallo scored the third-fastest goal in Ligue 1 this season when striking after only 16 seconds against Reims, contributing to his ten first-half goals so far. For Lyon, Bradley Barcola will be looking to continue a trend that has seen him score four of his five league goals on the road.

⚡ Hot streak: The previous eight H2Hs held here have seen the opening goal arrive before the half-hour mark.