Lille vs Nice prediction 17.01.2025 | Ligue 1

• Competition: Ligue 1
• Date: Friday, 17th January, 2025
• Kickoff: 20:05 UK / 21:05 CET
• Venue: Stade Pierre-Mauroy (Villeneuve d'Ascq)

After both teams secured the Coupe de France 1/8 Finals, Lille and Nice will face off against each other in the 18th round of the Ligue 1 at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Villeneuve d'Ascq.

With the exception of a 2021/22 season, Lille has been among the top five teams in France in the last several years, even winning the title in the 2020/21 season. This season, the Mastiffs had a rough start but are now doing OK, as they are in 5th place with 29 points from 17 rounds. Currently, they are on a 20-game unbeaten run while beating some really good teams like Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and eventually Marseille in the previous game in the Cup. And in the Champions League, the Mastiffs have been excellent and are on the right path to securing the 1/8 Finals.

Nice came to this season after finishing 5th last year, just beneath Lille. This season, the Eaglets are doing very well in the Ligue 1 and are in 4th place, just one point away from the third-placed Monaco. However, their performances in the Europa League have been atrocious, as they won only two points in six rounds and have a very slim chance of reaching the next stage of the competition. So, we expect them to focus on the domestic competitions fully.

Lille vs Nice pick: Both teams to score

Lille are playing really well and are without a loss since September! During that 20-game unbeaten run, the Mastiffs scored at least one goal on 18 occasions - 90%. Moreover, they scored a goal in all 13 home games. So, scoring against anyone in the league at Stade Pierre-Mauroy is a real scenario. Also, we do not fully believe in their defense since they only had one clean sheet in the last seven home matches.

Nice have been fantastic for this bet, as 12 of their last 13 (92%) games in all competitions finished with both teams scoring. Moreover, they are also in great form, winning four in a row while scoring nine goals - 2.25 per game.

In the previous h2h game, we saw a 2:2 draw. Additionally, both teams scored in five out of the last six h2h games. Considering the trend in the previous h2h games and all the above, we believe that both teams to score bet should be the best option for this Ligue 1 tie.