Nice Vs Rennes
Friday 24th January 2020 – 19:45 Kick-Off
French Ligue 1
Pick: Draw
Odds: 23/10
Bookmaker: Boylesports
(All betting odds displayed in this article were correct at time of writing: 21 January 2020 at 14:30)
Preview: France’s Ligue 1 action commences for this coming weekend at the Allianz Riveira, where hosts Nice are bidding to extend an excellent record against an in-form Rennes.
France Football Betting at 22Bet
Table of Contents
Nice Preview – Viera’s men to again excel as the home side?
During a Ligue 1 campaign blighted by issues with inconsistency – managing successive victories once all season – Nice (11th – W8 D4 L8, GF29 GA28) have now stumbled upon their longest unbeaten streak thus far, after last week’s 1-1 draw away to Angers made it four without loss (W2 D2). While not sufficient enough to drag them into the top half of the league, another productive outing at home on Friday evening certainly would be.
At their Allianz Riviera, Nice are a far more reliable proposition. Their last five leagues games to be staged there garnered four wins and a draw, with the most recent three all victories (Angers 3-1, Metz 4-1 and Toulouse 3-0). Under Patrick Viera the club are averaging an impressive two points per home game this season, while it speaks volume when the only teams to have won there so far – Marseille (1-2) and PSG (1-4) – are the best in the country at this present time, with the latter in particular a harsh scoreline.
However, their record versus the better teams this season is rather abysmal. Against the current top-seven in the standings, Nice have so far returned one win from seven (W1 D1 L5), which was in the reverse encounter against Rennes at Roazhon Park in August. Les Aiglons came from behind to earn a 2-1 victory that day and thus maintain a formidable head-to-head record, having not lost any of the last nine Ligue 1 meetings (W6 D3).
Rennes Preview – Miserly defence merits utmost respect?
To describe the fortunes of Rennes (3rd – W11 D3 L6, GF25 GA18) in recent editions of this fixture as torrid would not be an exaggeration. We are soon to be approaching five years since their last taste of success over Nice, losing six out of the last nine encounters (D3 L6) including three of the last four as the visiting side since a 2-1 win at Allianz Riviera back in 2014. Hoping to arrest such a miserable trend will, however, be a team boasting no shortage of encouraging league form.
By beating Nimes 1-0 on the road last time out, Rennes produced the ideal riposte to losing a cagey affair at home to second-placed Marseille by the same scoreline. It was a sixth Ligue 1 win in seven and their third straight 1-0 scoreline on the road (the others against Lyon and Metz), as coach Julien Stephan seeks to shut up shop in an effort to consolidate third place. His team retain a four point cushion over their closest pursuer, which happens to be a Nantes outfit who they’ll next face, at home, the following week.
Momentum is on their side, though, ahead of a crucial run of games. A key reason behind this recent purple patch has been a miserly defence, conceding a combined three times across their last seven league games and none at all in almost five hours of football away from home. Repeating this on Friday is entirely plausible as well – no team in France’s top tier can boast a meaner defensive record in away fixtures than them (7 conceded from 10 away games).
Click here for more Betting Tips
Betting Summary
Goals have typically flowed at Nice this season, with seven of ten Ligue 1 contests staged there producing a minimum of three goals (the other three all produced two goals). The hosts are also in terrific form in front of their own supporters, going the last five unbeaten and winning the last three. Therefore an air of confidence could engulf the venue ahead of a profitable fixture – Nice won three of the last four meetings as the home side.
Nice Vs Rennes – Key Facts:
- Following their 1-1 draw away to Angers, Nice are currently without defeat in four Ligue 1 games (W2 D2) – they’ve won the last three at home, meanwhile.
- A 1-0 victory on the road at Nimes made it three consecutive 1-0 away wins for Rennes, earning them a sixth victory in their last seven Ligue 1 games.
- Not since 2015 were Rennes last victorious in Ligue 1 over Nice, with the latter prevailing in six of the last nine encounters (W6 D3).
Their recent meetings provide for grim reading as far as Rennes are concerned, however recent league form should do plenty to lift the spirits of the travelling support. Those fans have witnessed six wins from their previous seven league matches, with the latest three away from home all returning 1-0 victories. Furthermore, there isn’t a team in the league with stronger defensive numbers on their travels this season (7 from 10 games).
Unders appeals on this basis then, but not at the odds. The last seven encounters between the pair have either ended drawn (3) or won by a solitary goal, suggesting another tight affair beckons.
Best Betting Odds for Nices V Rennes
Nice – 13/8 Betfair
Draw – 23/10 Boylesports
Rennes – 15/8 Ladbrokes
