Welcome to our extensive preview of the highly expected Ligue 1 Round 24 showdown between Saint Etienne and OGC Nice on March 1, 2025. Today's game pits two very different teams against each other: an under-performing Saint Etienne in dire need of a wake-up call and an on-fire OGC Nice buoyed by confidence and current form. Despite the unpredictable nature of football—where weather, referee decisions, injury, and red cards can turn the game around in seconds—we have put together a detailed analysis, head-to-head facts, and our five safest bets for this intriguing match.
Claim Welcome BonusSaint Etienne
Saint Etienne is hard-pressed in place on the league table. Their season has been up and down on a rollercoaster of inconsistency, with only recently a run of 7 consecutive defeats. The last fixture—a thrilling 3-3 draw with Angers—has seen Irvin Cardona record a brace as well as scoop the Man of the Match prize, with Pierre Ekwah adding a goal. But with these flashes of individual brilliance, the defensive frailties of the team (conceding early and often) and a series of underwhelming performances have left fans yearning for change. Manager Eirik Horneland is under pressure to balance an attacking ethos with a much-needed defensive solidity.
OGC Nice
Contrastingly, OGC Nice are lighting up the Ligue 1 table with ease, solidly in 3rd and with a dominant record of 12 victories, 7 draws, and just 4 losses. They have been nothing but comforting in recent displays—a 2-0 victory on the road at Montpellier showed how they are able to dominate fixtures and win matches. Led by Franck Haise, Nice have been predictable with win streaks and are marked by opening the game early, as indicated by their 5/5 record in this area. Although their away form has been slightly inconsistent, overall momentum is on their side and thus they are the obvious favorites for this game.
Head to Head
As for historical confrontation, the recent 10 confrontations between the two teams have been almost on level terms—Saint Etienne won 5, Nice won 4, and there has been 1 draw. Of late, the trend is favoring OGC Nice, who approach this contest on a streak of three recent consecutive victories. Their recent relative head-to-head form, with better overall shape, indicates Nice may well be able to beat their opponents consistently in this prestige game.
History of Head-to-Heads
Ligue 1 2024/2025
Nice
Ligue 1 2024/2025
Saint-Etienne
Ligue 1 2021/2022
Saint-Etienne
Ligue 1 2021/2022
Nice
Ligue 1 2020/2021
Saint-Etienne
Saint-Etienne Latest Games
Saint-Etienne
Toulouse
Saint-Etienne
AS Monaco
Saint-Etienne
FC Lyon
Nice Latest Games
Nice
Brest
Nice
Reims
Nice
Angers
Expert Betting Tips
Nice to Win @ 1.73 Odds on 1xbet.
With Nice's superior league position, recent winning streak, and the fact that they score first in nearly every game, backing Nice to win appears a good bet. Their quality and form make them the better bet despite the uncertainty that is football.
First Half Winner – Nice @ 2.20 Odds on Betway.
OGC Nice boasts a record that is solid when they gain an early lead. Having 4/5 of their matches won in the first half, along with scoring early being the nature of this team, odds on Nice winning at halftime have a calculated gamble with a massive reward.
Both Teams to Score (BTTS) @ 1.61 Odds on Bet365.
Despite Saint Etienne's defensive issues and Nice's current form, both sides have proven they are capable of scoring. This wager takes into consideration the possibility of a close encounter with goals for both teams—even when external factors (like a questionable red card) are in play.
Other predictions
