Nice vs Bastia Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Ligue 1 leaders Nice will be under the spotlight again this Sunday afternoon as they try and maintain their three point advantage at the top of the table against Bastia at Allianz Riviera.

Lucien Favre’s side have won ten of their 13 league fixtures so far in 2016/17 and bounced back from a surprise defeat at Caen prior to the international break with a fine 0-1 success at St Etienne last weekend, courtesy of a goal from Valentin Eysseric.

Eysseric was left out of Nice’s 2-0 defeat to Schalke in the Europa League on Thursday night and that result shouldn’t deter Nice backers here considering plenty of other regulars were given the evening off.

It’s probably a blessing in disguise that Nice are now out of Europe’s second club competition so that they can now focus on sustaining their effort at the top of Ligue 1 and at the very least securing a Champions League berth come the end of the season.

And whilst their title challenge may deteriorate later in the campaign, anything but qualification for the Champions League will now be seen as a disappointment for Les Aiglons, considering they are a massive 10 points clear of fourth placed Lyon.

Nice are 8/13 favourites to bag another victory this weekend and it’s hard to bet against Favre’s men, especially with opponents Bastia in such poor form.

The Corsican outfit are without a win in six and currently sit 16^th in Ligue 1, just two points ahead of the relegation zone.

Francois Ciccolini’s men let an early lead slip in a 1-1 home draw with Montpellier last weekend and a similarly sluggish performance on Sunday afternoon will see them punished against one of France’s most potent attacks in the shape of Alassane Plea and Mario Balotelli who have 13 goals between them already this term – although the latter is doubtful here with a calf strain.

Furthermore, Bastia have lost five of their six matches on the road this season, whilst Nice have dropped just two points in their half dozen home outings.

All in all a Nice win cannot be opposed here – the leaders have looked the real deal so far and the way they hit back from defeat last time out was admirable.

We’ll take the hosts to win this one by a couple of goals at least and 3-0 is our suggestion in terms of correct score.