Jason Collins
Dailysports's expert
On February 16, Le Havre and Nice will face off in a Ligue 1 clash between a relegation battler and a Champions League contender. Can Le Havre continue their fight for survival, or will Nice strengthen their grip on a top-three finish? Here’s my detailed betting preview for this matchup.
Le Havre
Le Havre is among the main relegation candidates, currently sitting in 17th place, just one point from the relegation playoff spot and four points away from full safety.
Despite their struggles, Le Havre showed real fighting spirit in their last match, securing a surprise 2-1 away win over Lille. This result helped them climb off the bottom of the table, but they still have a lot of work to do to avoid the drop.
In their last four Ligue 1 matches, they have lost only once, picking up five points in that stretch.
Nice
Nice is having a strong season, currently third in Ligue 1, ahead of Monaco on goal difference.
Their European campaign was a failure, as they failed to qualify for the Europa League knockout rounds. However, this allows them to fully focus on securing a Champions League spot in Ligue 1.
In their most recent league match, Nice defeated Lens 2-0 at home, extending their unbeaten run to three games, collecting seven points from a possible nine.
Securing a top-three finish would be a massive achievement, but maintaining their current position will not be easy given the competition.
Probable lineups
- Le Havre: Gorgelin, Zouaoui, Youte Kinkoue, Lloris, Nego, Mwanga, Soumaré, Diawara, Kechta, Casimir, Hassan.
- Nice: Bulka, Ndayishimiye, Bumbito, Dante, Clauss, Boudaoui, Santamaria, Bard, Guessand, Cho, Laborde.
Match facts
- Le Havre at home: Worst home record in Ligue 1 – 2 wins, 8 losses.
- Nice away: 3 wins, 4 losses, 4 draws.
- Betting odds: Le Havre 5.10 | Draw 4.00 | Nice 1.68.
Head-to-head (H2H)
First-leg result: Nice won 2-1 at home, securing a deserved victory.
Prediction
This is a clash of two teams fighting for different objectives, with Le Havre battling for survival and Nice pushing for Champions League qualification.
Despite Le Havre’s improved form, they have struggled at home, while Nice has proven to be a solid team overall.
Given both teams' styles and recent performances, I expect a competitive match with goal-scoring opportunities for both sides. Best bet: Both teams to score (BTTS – Yes).
