Nantes vs OGC Nice Prediction: Tactical Intricacies and Form Insights as Nantes and OGC Nice Battle to Revive Their Campaigns in Ligue 1

Nantes welcome OGC Nice in what looks like an interesting match from Ligue 1's point of view at the Stade de la Beaujoire on October 20, 2024. With a near-identical record each, sitting both teams in middle-table positions, this fixture is pivotal for defining their trajectory of the early season. Nantes sit in 10th position, having struggled to find consistency throughout the last few weeks while Nice sit in 9th position, a point better off. The two teams head into this affair trying to snap a four-game winless run. Given their contrasting tactical styles, the game will most likely be a closely fought battle, which might be defined by the small margins.

Nantes come into this match after losing 2-0 to Lyon and extending their poor run of form. Although they have had solid defensive resilience throughout the season, maintaining offensive sharpness has been hard for them. Antoine Kombouaré will have to balance his defense and attack well since his team hasn't won in the last four matches. Key to that will be an upturn in midfield creativity; Nantes struggled to break down Lyon's defense last time out, forging only one big chance despite having nine corners, and their structure - built around a 4-2-3-1 formation - reflects an organized but sometimes static style.

Nantes will most likely use their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, which has afforded defensive stability for them but too often relied on wide players and set pieces for goal creation. This team will have to figure out how to break down the three-man defense that Nice has employed; this will be a true challenge as big chances are just not being created on a consistent basis lately. Kombouaré might look to play through the middle with more urgency, trying to cut through Nice's midfield, while using their strong point at set-pieces, having won nine corners in the previous match.

Nice, on the other hand, come off a hard-fought 1-1 draw against PSG. Franck Haise's men were strong in defense, keeping the Parisian giants to a mere one goal despite holding only 29% possession. The 3-4-2-1 system adopted by Haise emphasizes on building from defense and fast transitions. Much importance is attributed to the use of wing-backs for width. However, Nice have struggled to put away chances, failing to register a big chance against PSG. Their intense pressing and swift counter-attacks come up against a Nantes outfit that always likes to put the tempo into the game when playing at home.

Nice, under Franck Haise, will stick to their preferred 3-4-2-1 shape. They are defensively well-disciplined and prefer to choke opponents by not allowing any space and using fullbacks to speed up the transitions. Nice, especially with Nantes having shown vulnerabilities when pressed, will look to counter-attack. Haise's men will look to frustrate Nantes by denying them any space and exposing any kind of mistake made in possession. Both teams are sitting in mid-table, so the game could become a chess game of tactics, with neither manager wanting to get caught out.

Historically, it has always been even between these two sides with seven victories each for Nantes and Nice, along with six draws. In recent times, Nantes have held the upper hand, seeing them not lose in any of their last five matches to Nice. Nantes also boast the habit of scoring first in these fixtures, having done so in four of their last five meetings.

The last meeting between the sides was in March 2024, when Nantes won 2-1. In that game, it was a case of how Nantes' resilience and the ability to capitalize on key moments proved decisive. Given the inconstant form of both teams recently, this may just be another tight match where moments of individual brilliance or defensive lapses seal the deal.

Both teams go into this encounter seeking a desperately needed win after four games without a win. Nantes will have the added pressure of performing at home, particularly with their recent lack of form in front of goal. Their possession statistics and creative output have been below par for the usual standard they set, as reflected in their 38% possession and only six shots on target against Lyon. The inconsistency of the team in attack would make them very vulnerable to Nice's quick counter-attacking play.

Nice, while defensively solid, face their own problems in creating goal-scoring opportunities. The 29% possession against PSG showed how they like to sit deep, but to not create any big chances last match is concerning. Despite that, the 3-4-2-1 formation that Nice would deploy may pose some problems for Nantes, who are not the quickest when having to deal with transitions. The real battle may be in the middle of the park, where both teams do need to stamp some sort of authority. That is where the key battle might be, and Nantes' ability to win duels-a success rate of 52%-will be important, as they need to disrupt Nice's rhythm. In return, Nice's press and discipline at the back-54% of tackles won-might negate any creativity from Nantes. This will likely be more territorial than an open, free-flowing encounter.

• 3 Way Total Under 3 Goals @ 1.714 Odds
• Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.65 Odds
• Over 9 Corners @ 1.83 Odds