AS Monaco vs OGC Nice tips: Honours even in Cote d’Azur as rivals extended unbeaten streak
- Sergiu Baltuta
- 22 September 2023
Ligue 1 round six kicks off on Friday night with the Côte d’Azur derby between AS Monaco and OGC Nice at Stade Louis II (2000).
Both teams are undefeated this season and AS Monaco are currently top of Ligue 1 with 11 points after five games.
Monaco are one point ahead of Brest, two points ahead of Nice and Marseille, and three points ahead of PSG, Lille, and Metz.
Their strong start to the season gives them cause for optimism, particularly as they have a lighter schedule due to not participating in European competitions.
Adi Hutter’s side have begun with two decisive victories, 4-2 away at Clermont and 3-0 at home against Strasbourg.
Suggested bet: Both teams to score
Myron Boadu’s goal salvaged a late 3-3 draw away to Nantes while a 98th-minute equaliser from Romain Faivre saw them drop two points in a 2-2 draw away to Lorient.
The hosts have yet to concede on home soil but a growing injury list will put them to the test on Friday. Breel Embolo, Mohammed Salisu, Edan Diop and Elisse Ben Seghir are all out.
Nice shocked French football this summer when they replaced promotion winner Didier Digard with Francesco Farioli, a former assistant to Roberto De Zerbi.
The change seems to have been for the better, as the 34-year-old Italian manager has not lost since arriving in the south of France. He started with three draws: 1-1 at home against Lille, 1-1 away at Lorient, and 0-0 at home against Lyon.
Suggested bet: OGC Nice +0.25 Asian handicap
Their first win came away to Strasbourg before the international break, after which The Eagles managed a stunning 3-2 win against PSG at Parc des Princes.
Nice signed experienced goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu after parting ways with Kasper Schmeichel, but he is currently injured and unavailable.
Farioli will also be without Antoine Mendy and Alexis Claude-Maurice, both of whom are injured, in addition to his goalkeeper.
Monaco had previously won five of the six head-to-head games between the two teams, with the other game ending in a draw. However, Nice won the last game 3-0 away, breaking Monaco's winning streak.
Nice won their last away game in Paris, but they haven’t recorded consecutive away wins since February when they beat Lens, Marseille and rivals Monaco.
