Nice - PSG: Prediction and Match Preview

March 21, 2026. 22:00. Nice. Allianz Riviera Stadium.
French Championship. 27th round.

Where to watch: MEGOGO

Disqualified: Hakimi (PSG)

Injured: Ndombele, Oppong, Abdi, Abdelmonem, Bombito, Cho, Jansson (?) - Barkola, Njantu, Ruiz

Nice - PSG: Bookmaker odds

PSG successfully completed their task in the 1/8 finals of the Champions League and now returns to Ligue 1 play. In the 27th round, the Parisians go to the Allianz Riviera for a match against Nice. A win would send the capital club into the international break in March as league leaders. The hosts, meanwhile, are pursuing more modest goals, sitting just above the relegation zone.

Nice

Nice is perhaps the most striking example of the rapid decline among French clubs. Last season, under the leadership of Franck Eze, the Eagles qualified for the Champions League, but their European campaign was a disaster. Without proper support from the club management in terms of new transfers and after losing several key players, the team from the Côte d'Azur failed to reach the Champions League stage and showed a terrible result in the Europa League. In eight league matches, they won just one, and hopes of a play-off place were dashed before the start of 2026. The Eagles have completed their European journey under new coach Claude Puel.

The French coach has returned to the game after a four-year break, but things are not going so smoothly - Nice are currently the closest to the relegation zone. However, they at least pulled three points clear of potential trouble last weekend, now eight points clear of Auxerre, who are in the play-offs. Nice ended their six-match unbeaten run with a win away at Angers. The Eagles also remain in contention for European football, having reached the semi-finals of the Coupe de France, from which several major favourites have already been eliminated.

A surprise win on Saturday could see them win back-to-back league titles for the first time in 2026. However, the task looks even more daunting given that Puel has not won a home game since returning to the club, and Nice's last home league win came against Lille in October. On the other hand, their previous two home wins came against teams currently in the top five, beating Lyon and Lille. Nice have also picked up points in two of their last three Ligue 1 meetings with PSG, including a 1-1 draw in their last meeting with their rivals at the Allianz Riviera.

PSG

PSG have made good use of their break in Ligue 1, thanks to the league's decision to postpone their match against Nantes at the request of the Parisians. Two crushing victories over Chelsea – 5-2 and 3-0 – have secured Luis Enrique’s side a comfortable quarter-final berth, where they face fellow English side Liverpool. PSG will be looking to beat the Merseysiders once again on their way to potentially lifting their second Champions League trophy. Now it’s time for the Parisians to focus on domestic matters. In France, after an early exit from the Coupe de la Ligue at the hands of neighbours Paris FC, Enrique’s side have only one goal left: to retain their title. Despite the loss, that goal has come a little closer as Lens lost last weekend, leaving PSG with a one-point lead over their main rivals and a game in hand. Overall, though, defending their Ligue 1 title is not as easy as it was last time, when they finished 20 points clear of their nearest rivals, Marseille. The Parisians have already suffered four defeats this season, two of them in 2026 - away to Rennes and at home to Monaco (1-3). They have also lost away to Monaco and narrowly missed out on a place at Marseille at the Velodrome. If PSG fail at the Allianz Riviera, it will mean back-to-back league defeats, something they haven't seen in almost a year.

Surprisingly, PSG's success this season has been more about defensive reliability, as they lead the league in the fewest goals conceded. They also lead the league in goals scored, but that pales in comparison to last season, when many of their victories were by wide margins. They have scored just 54 goals so far, and Barcola is their top scorer in the league with 10 - a figure that doesn't even rank among the top three in the division. However, the trip to Nice promises to be fruitful, as PSG have won their last three away matches in all competitions and have won three of their four home matches outside the capital in 2026. The Parisians have not dropped a single point away from home against teams in the bottom half of the table this season, and they have won two of their last three visits to Nice. The Eagles have suffered a 1-0 home defeat this season. Nice v PSG: Expected Line-ups Nice's injury list is as tight as it has been for most of the season. Ndombele, Oppong, Abdi, Abdelmonem, Bombito and Cho are currently out. Jansson's participation is questionable. PSG will play without the suspended Hakimi. Barcola joins injured Njantu and Ruiz.

Nice - PSG: Author's prediction

PSG, buoyed by their European exploits, have every chance of returning to winning ways in league. I expect the Parisians to do it convincingly, at least with a two-goal difference.