Monaco vs Nice: Match Preview and Prediction

March 29, 2025. 21:45. Monaco. Stade Louis II.
Ligue 1. Matchday 27

Suspended: Bard (Nice)

Injured: Ouattara, Tézé (Monaco)

Monaco vs Nice: Betting Odds

The 27th matchday of Ligue 1 concludes with the Côte d’Azur derby featuring Monaco and Nice. This encounter is not only a fierce rivalry but also crucial for the positioning of both teams in the league. Both sides are vying for a spot in the Champions League, with the hosts equal on points with their visitors but leading on goal difference, as both teams boast a +19 goal difference. The third and fourth places currently held by these teams guarantee Champions League participation, but only the top three directly qualify for the group stage. Additionally, three other challengers are lurking close behind, creating the possibility for Monaco to challenge Marseille for the second position with a solid performance.

Monaco

It appears that Monaco is gradually finding its form after a difficult start to the year. For the first time in 2025, they have managed to go three consecutive league matches without a defeat. Following their exit to Benfica in the Champions League Round of 16 and a loss to Lille in a key match regarding a top-four finish, the side led by Gutter secured two wins and a draw against Reims, Toulouse, and Angers. Only one goal conceded in these three fixtures will likely please the Monaco coach, especially as his team has allowed opponents too many chances this year, often conceding two or more goals. Had it not been for a late goal from Toulouse in their recent away game, the Monégasques would have claimed three consecutive league wins for the first time since September of the previous year.

Despite challenges in 2025, there are still positive signs for Monaco, particularly with the impressive performance of summer signing Mika Birette. The Dane, who joined from Sturm during the winter transfer window, has netted 11 goals and recorded three hat-tricks. Consequently, his recent call-up to the national team was more than justified. Moreover, despite their inconsistent results, the Monégasques have been strong at Stade Louis II, winning four consecutive matches here with a combined goal difference of 17:5. However, their opponents have primarily been from the lower half of the table. From now on, Gutter's team will only face rivals in the race for European spots at home, including Marseille, Strasbourg, and Lyon after Nice. Thus, Monaco has a fantastic opportunity to solidify their Champions League qualification themselves.

In recent years, Nice has proven to be a tricky opponent for Monaco. The Principality club has lost three of their previous four encounters, including two at home with scorelines of 0-1. In the first half of the season, Monaco suffered a 1:2 defeat away. Gutter understands that achieving a positive result this time around will not be easy and expressed his thoughts about the opposing team: “In comparison to last season, they show more bravery, press high, they are strong, and they have pace on the front line. They look good in transitional phases. Last season they were more resilient and compact. They have many players who pose a threat. Physically, they are one of the best teams in Ligue 1.”

Nice

Nice's two home matches in March unexpectedly yielded only one point. They initially lost to Lyon, marking just their second defeat in 2025. Notably, Lyon is the only team this season that has defeated Eze's men on two occasions. That defeat ended a four-match winning streak during which the team accumulated 16 points over six matches. They could not resume their winning ways against Auxerre. Hesse's goal could have been a winner, but Bard's red card and a late goal from the visitors dampened the spirits of fans at Allianz Riviera. These setbacks have seen Nice slip out of the top three. While the gap is not currently critical, continued failures could put the 'Eagles' at risk of missing the Champions League again. They already had a disappointing experience in the Europa League this season, finishing 35th out of 36 in the league phase.

Nonetheless, it is evident that Eze’s primary goal is to secure a place in the prestigious European competition. Nice's odds of direct qualification for the Champions League are not particularly high due to a challenging away fixture schedule. Besides Monaco, they will face Strasbourg, PSG, and Rennes on the road. However, there is some reason for optimism, as they collected ten points from their last five away matches and secured consecutive victories for the first time this season. On the flip side, all their wins were against teams in the lower half of the table—Reims, Le Havre, and Saint-Étienne—where they totaled 10 goals. In general, the 'Eagles' rank second only to the top three in terms of scoring, with Laborde and Hesse's 11 and 9 goals respectively speaking volumes.

Two consecutive wins over Monaco at Stade Louis II would mark the first time in the history of this rivalry that Nice achieves such a feat, and the 'Eagles' hope to build on this success. If they manage to score at least one goal against the Monégasques, it will be the first time since 1950 that Nice has scored in ten consecutive away league matches. This could be aided by the fact that Nice approaches the match without any injured players. Additionally, Nice coach Eze indicated that he would remain with the team for next season regardless of the results. Nonetheless, after a similar success with Lens, he would undoubtedly desire to guide the team into the Champions League's main round for the second time in three seasons, making this matchup against Monaco potentially pivotal.

Monaco vs Nice: Predicted Line-ups

Magassa, Balogun, and Golovin are nearing returns, but they are unlikely to start just yet. Ouattara and Tézé remain in the treatment room, while Vanderson and Minamino are doubtful after long-haul flights with their national teams. For Nice, Bard will miss out due to suspension. Moffi, Sanson, and Ndombele have returned from the treatment room but are still working on their fitness, so they may only be available for substitutions.

Monaco vs Nice: Author's Prediction

This match looks very evenly matched, and predicting the outcome is quite challenging. The bookmakers favor the home side, but I believe the visitors will have a decent chance of returning from Stade Louis II with at least a draw.