Toulouse – Nice : Preview & Prediction
Last season’s Ligue 2 champions, Toulouse, return to the French top flight after a two-year absence. Toulouse will be happy to start Ligue 1 at home, although considering they are currently tied for the longest home losing streak in Ligue 1 ever (eight), that might not be the case here.
One more loss would leave the historic mark in their hands alone, and with five defeats in the last nine league clashes against Nice (G1, E3), history cannot be ruled out. The home team’s coach, Philippe Montanier, could be a determining factor, having won three of his last four games in charge against Nice (P1).
Nice begins the era after the departure of Christophe Galtier to PSG and with the return of Lucien Favre to the team over the summer – and with the acquisition of two big European names in Aaron Ramsey and Kasper Scmeichel. Favre’s first full season at Nice in his last stint at the club (2016/17) ended with the team in third place, which is the team’s highest position at the end of a season in this 21st century.
That success was built on a solid start, with Nice recording 11 unbeaten games to start the competition (G9, E2), which helped lead the league during the winter break. Things might not be just as easy this time around, as Favre has the task at hand of cutting the team’s run of nine defeats in its last 12 inaugural Ligue 1 away games (G2, E1).
Players to watch: Thijs Dallinga arrives at Toulouse after scoring 32 goals in the Dutch second division last season, the first three of which helped open the scoring. Meanwhile, Nice did not lose any of the 15 matches in which Andy Delort scored last season (G12, E3).
Key stat: Toulouse have not won any of their last 18 Ligue 1 matches – the longest active streak in their history.
Toulouse – Nice : Betting Tips
Nice – Win Odds: 2.55
