Angers vs OGC Nice Prediction: Nice have no excuse

This weekend's Ligue 1 clash between Angers and OGC Nice is a vital game for the two teams in search of form in the early part of the season. With Angers currently at the tail end of the table after two successive defeats, and Nice passing through a winless run, both teams will keenly eye a positive result from this match.

Angers have been off to a really terrible start to the season, losing their opening two matches of the season. They last played Lille at home and lost by a 2-0 scoreline, which actually makes it six on the spin since the end of last season. In fact, through these six matches, Angers has found it really hard to score and that's because they have also found it hard defensively to concede in seven in a row. A trend that might worry Angers is the propensity for them to concede first, as they have done in six out of the last seven. That is an indication of a lack of resilience and stability in their defending, which would be quite a liability against Nice, as they can score early.

On the other hand, OGC Nice comes into this match after managing a 1-1 home draw with Toulouse. Their form has seen them record one win, two draws, and two losses in their last five games. Indeed, Nice has struggled to win matches of late, as they now face a run of three games without a win. However, they have been relatively prolific in front of goal, with over 2.5 goals scored in seven of the last nine matches, and both teams have scored on eight occasions during those nine games. One thing that does stay consistent about Nice's play is a penchant to score first, having done so in seven of the last eight matches. With such attacking flair, it may prove telling against Angers's leaky defense.

Head-to-head between the two sides sees OGC Nice on the driving seat, having won in seven out of the last 16, while Angers is ahead in only three of them and drew in six. The last encounter between them, which is also the latest, was back in Angers' backyard and ended 1-1, giving that image - even so, Nice has had a better account in the past.

With the current form and historical context, this is a match where OGC Nice would-be slight favorites. They have shown defensive flaws themselves, with Angers, and are on a losing streak, making it hard to see them immediately get back to their winning ways.

Nice's ability to score first and Angers's defensive troubles make a victory for Nice a more likely outcome, but Angers may still get goals, considering Nice's own vulnerabilities.

• Away Win or Draw and Over 1.5 Goals at 1.77 Odds
• Away Win at 2.00 Odds
• Correct Score 1:2 at 9.00 Odds