Nice took their first point of the season as they shared spoils with Toulouse last weekend, but les Aiglons were very unlucky not to win the game having missed a penalty deep into injury time. Nice are now looking for the first win over the season against Brest, the team that drew their first three league games this term.

Nice raising their form

After spending last few years fighting to avoid the drop, Nice showed a lot of promise last season under new coach Eric Roy and the club are now determined to avoid another relegation struggle. The club not only managed to keep hold of star players Ospina, Mounier and Mouloungui, but they added several very good players to the side in Camel Meriem, Luciano Monzon and Fabrice Abriel, so it is only a matter of time before les Aiglons start climbing the Ligue 1 table. Despite the opening defeats to Lyon and Evian, Nice have been showing a lot of potential at the start of the season, and they are very unlucky to have just one point to their tally, especially after outplaying Toulouse last weekend. Nevertheless, coach Eric Roy can be very happy with the way the team are playing at the moment and if les Aiglons keep their performances at this level, the results will come as well. Nice now have a great chance to record a much needed win against average Brest side and it is highly unlikely they will miss such a good opportunity.

New signing from Toulouse Xavier Pentecote should be in contention, while Anthony Mounier is expected to start after shaking off an ankle injury.

Three straight draws

Brest managed to survive their first season in the top flight, mostly thanks to the impressive start of the season, but Alex Dupont’s side could face a tough task this term. The club have added several average players to their ranks this summer, with Culma, Ben Basat, Martial, Makonda, Zebina and Gentiletti all arriving to increase competition for places, but, in all fairness, the team don’t look any better than last term. Brest remain a tough team to beat as witnessed by three draws in as many games, although we have to say they were very lucky to pick up a point from their home game against Evian, having come from two goals behind to earn a draw. With several important players still on the sidelines, coach Alex Dupont is unable to field his best line-up and that could end up costing his side dearly against very good Nice side.

Starters against Lyon Jerome Martial and Romain Poyet are set to miss this game through injury, while Ahmed Kantari, Omar Daf, Diallo Guidileye and Jonathan Ayite are also sidelined.

Verdict

Nice are playing way better than the results are showing and it is high time les Aiglons recorded the first win of the season. Brest, on the other hand, look to be on the downtrend and with so many important players on the sidelined, they don’t look capable of matching Nice at Stade Municipal du Ray.

Our prediction: Home win

Odds: 2.30 (13/10)

Bookmaker: William Hill