Monaco v Nice Betting Tip Under 2.5 goals – 16 January 2019

Under 2.5 goals as Nice visit Monaco

International Football Tips

FranceMonaco v NiceFrance
Wednesday 16th January 1945hrs 
Football – France – Ligue 1
Pick: Under 2.5 goals
Bookmaker: Marathon Bet
Odds: 71/100 (odds taken 21.40 GMT, Monday 14th January)

Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira were two of the most decorated French players of their era but the harsh reality of management is biting them at the moment. They face each other for the first time as coaches on Wednesday – continue reading for a match preview of Monaco versus Nice with a selected best betting tip.

Ligue 1 Betting at Marathon Bet

Monaco Preview

Monaco were French Champions in 2017 and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League that same season. As is so often the case with this club, however, that group of players were broken up with huge sums of money brought into the club. The difference this time around is that the players brought in as replacements – sometimes for large transfer fees themselves – have not been successful and they are now suffering the consequences. Leonardo Jardim was relieved of his duties as Monaco turned to Henry in a bid to revive their season and steering them to safety. It’s yet to have the desired effect as Henry cuts his teeth as a head coach for the first time – and it’s been challenging to say the least. Since being appointed, the former Arsenal and Barcelona forward has won only two of 10 league games. Monaco were 18th when the made the change in manager and have dropped a place over that period. They remain, however, just four points from safety with this game in hand to come on Wednesday so there is hope. The club have also backed their manager by bringing in a couple of players already in this transfer window, one of which is Henry’s former Arsenal team-mate, Cesc Fabregas. He’ll provide much needed experience and composure in the middle of the park and made an impressive debut away to Marseille on Sunday.

 

Key-Facts – Monaco v Nice

  • Henry and Vieira come face to face having been club and international team-mates –
  • Nice are the joint-lowest scorers in Ligue 1 this season with just 14 goals
  • Monaco are in a relegation battle less than two years after being crowned champions

 

Nice Preview

Vieira is not as much of a managerial novice as Henry, having coached in the MLS for a couple of years, but this is his first job in a top league and he has had to contend with his own challenges. Nice were becoming an established top four club in Ligue 1 under Lucien Favre, and he was always going to be a tough act to follow but the former New York City FC boss is making a good fist of it. Vieira’s team sit eighth currently but he has come under some pressure from the club’s supporters due to the style of play. Nice have scored only 14 goals in Ligue 1 this season – the joint fewest along with bottom club Guingamp. It’s not helped with the ongoing dispute between Mario Balotelli and the club. The Italian is a well-known enigma and it’s been announced he will not play whilst the current manager is in place. Having suffered a heavy defeat in the French cup last midweek, Vieira’s team responded with a much-needed win at home to Bordeaux at the weekend to ensure they keep pace with the clubs above them in the race for a European spot.

Monaco v Nice Betting Advice

Patrick Vieira was Henry’s captain whilst the two of them were at Arsenal, and also for a period in the French national team. When they face each other on Wednesday, however, they will want to crush the others team and secure a vital three points. Monaco can go to within a point of getting themselves out the relegation zone with a win whilst their opponents could go fourth and just outside the Champions League places. The two clubs will close out their league campaigns in the return fixture in May and the hosts will just be hoping they have secured their Ligue 1 status by that stage.

Monaco have been a mess for virtually the whole season but Fabregas’ signing and inclusion on Sunday made a significant different and his leadership skills could be the turning point. It will be a tough ask on Wednesday against a Nice outfit who may not score many but also have one of the best defensive records in the league – and Monaco have also found goals hard to come by. Six of Monaco’s last eight games have contained two or fewer goals whist Nice (whose Ligue 1 games this season average 1.63 goals in them) have seen nine of their last 10 go in a similar direction. Henry had decided to make his team harder to beat in recent weeks and more emphasis on defence, they may get a result on Wednesday but I’m predicting it to come in a low-scoring affair.