SC Bastia vs Nimes Predictions

• Bastia won Championnat National 1 with only 11 goals conceded in 17 home games last season.
• Nimes picked up after a managerial change in February, but several players left after relegation.
• Bastia beat Nice, Bastia-Borgo and Annecy in pre-season fixtures.

Covid-hit Bastia could still be value

Bastia’s long-awaited return to Ligue 2 could be spoiled by a bout of Covid-19 with several suspected cases in the camp ahead of Nimes’ visit to Corsica.

The Lions of Furiani have completed a remarkable rise with three successive promotions seeing them move back into the second flight of French football.

Last season’s impressive title-winning team has been added to with a few players dropping down a league with a point to prove and pre-season preparations have gone well.

Mathieu Chabert declared himself happy with a recent 1-0 win over big-budget Nice, but they could now be without a few players for this weekend’s Ligue 2 curtain call.

Nimes dropped down after a three-season stay in Ligue 1 with manager Pascal Plancque brought in to fire fight in February.

He oversaw an improvement in away form as Les Crocodiles finished with three wins, three defeats and a draw in their last seven road games, but it wasn’t enough.

The spine of the squad he inherited has now gone and pre-season has been a getting to know you process for squad and staff alike.

A 2-2 draw with Troyes who replaced them in Ligue 1 and a 1-0 win over strugglers Ajaccio in friendlies suggest there is something to work with but it could take time to gel.

Despite the threat of a virus sweeping through the hosts, we still think they can avoid defeat in this opener and will be with them in the Double Chance market.

Single goal wins appear to be Bastia’s forte so a 1-0 to Les Bleus will be the correct score recommendation.

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