MX23RW : Friday, April 22 18:22:11| >> :120:27482:27482:
[monks data]
Apr 17, 2022 at 12pm UK at Stade Municipal du Ray
Nice
2 - 1
Lorient
Delort (54' pen., 88')
Daniliuc (45'), Thuram (78')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Lauriente (61')
Jenz (53')

Preview: Nice vs. Lorient - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Ligue 1 clash between Nice and Lorient, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Nice head into Sunday's fixture with Lorient looking to end a run of four games without success in Ligue 1.

At a time when the home side have recently dropped into fifth position in the standings, Lorient are four points clear of the relegation zone with seven matches remaining.


Match preview

Nice coach Christophe Galtier on March 1, 2022© Reuters

Up until the latter stages of January, Nice looked like a side that were capable of finishing in second position behind runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

However, just two victories have been recorded from their last nine outings, while Christophe Galtier's team have not posted a victory since defeating PSG back on March 5.

With the gap to third-placed Rennes still only five points, Les Aiglons will feel that they can still secure a spot in the Champions League qualifiers for next season.

That said, despite drawing 1-1 with their rivals at the start of this month, last weekend's 3-0 reverse at Lens means that Nice have no momentum heading into this contest.

In total, Nice have conceded six times in just three matches, although they still possess the best defensive record in the division.

From Lorient's perspective, they will fancy their chances of causing the upset in the South of France after putting together an improved string of results since the start of February.

As many as 14 points have come from their last nine fixtures, the most recent of their four victories during that period coming by a 6-2 scoreline against Saint-Etienne last time out.

After losing 5-1 at PSG and then going 2-0 down in that fixture, Lorient remarkably scored six goals between the 42nd and 89th minutes, helping by their opponents being reduced to 10 men with a quarter of the game still remaining.

More than half of Terem Moffi's seven league strikes have been scored in his last four outings, and the 22-year-old has a key part to play if Christophe Pelissier's team are to remain in the top flight.

Nice Ligue 1 form:
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • L

Nice form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • L

Lorient Ligue 1 form:
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • W



Team News

Lorient manager Christophe Pelissier pictured in January 2021© Reuters

Nice will have to make do without Dante and Mario Lemina after the duo were sent off against Lens.

Flavius Daniliuc and Khephren Thurman-Ulien are expected to be drafted into the defence and midfield respectively.

Jordan Lotomba is also on standby to deputise for Youcef Atal with the right-back having suffered an injury last week.

Pelissier may be prepared to stick with the Lorient XI which showed resolve to fight back to thrash Saint-Etienne.

Even if Bonke Innocent and Stephane Diarra recover from injury in time for this contest, the pair are likely to be named on the substitutes' bench.

Nice possible starting lineup:
Benitez; Lotomba, Daniliuc, Todibo, Amavi; Kluivert, Rosario, Thuram-Ulien, Gouiri; Dolberg, Delort

Lorient possible starting lineup:
Dreyer; Mendes, Laporte, Petrot, Goff; Fee, Monconduit, Abergel; Moffi, Kone, Lauriente


SM words green background

We say: Nice 2-0 Lorient

After losing their way recently, Nice are not as clear-cut favourites for this game as you would necessarily. Nevertheless, we still expect the home side to get back on track, maybe with a goal in each half and a clean sheet to boot.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:curl


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How you voted: Nice vs Lorient

Nice
80.8%
Draw
11.5%
Lorient
7.7%
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Marseille's Arkadiusz Milik celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on March 20, 2022
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG33245475304577
2Marseille33188755332262
3Rennes331751170363456
4StrasbourgStrasbourg331511755352056
5MonacoMonaco33168951341756
6Nice331671042291354
7Lens331581052411153
8Lyon33131195143849
9Lille33121294140148
10NantesNantes33138124338547
11Montpellier HSCMontpellier33126154446-242
12Brest33119134248-642
13Reims33913113636040
14Angers33810153649-1334
15Lorient33810153352-1934
16Troyes3389163046-1633
17Clermont3388173361-2832
18Saint-EtienneSt Etienne33710163764-2731
19Bordeaux33512164479-3527
20Metz33412172959-3024

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