Nice - Brest: Match Preview and Prediction

February 1, 2026. 18:15. Nice. Allianz Riviera Stadium.
Ligue 1. Round 20.

Where to watch: MEGOGO

Disqualified: Ba (Nice)

Injured: Abdelmonem, Bombito, Ndayshimiye, Bard (?), Budaoui (?) - Balde, Loko

Nice - Brest: betting odds

On Sunday, the match of the 20th round of Ligue 1 between Nice and Brest will take place at the Allianz Riviera. The teams are close in the standings, with the hosts in 13th place with 21 points, while the visitors have one more point, which moves them up one place.

Nice

Nice ended their European campaign with another defeat on Thursday, although it was clear back in December 2025 that a play-off spot was out of reach for the Eagles. After all, Nice have won just one match in Europe and lost nine, including Champions League qualification and the Europa League group stage. So the work of Franck Aise and his team, who finished fourth last season against stiff competition from four other teams, ultimately did not yield any results. The club's management failed to bolster the squad with quality signings in the summer, and a series of injuries plus internal conflicts, including an incident in which two players were attacked by fans, have overshadowed Nice's season.

Aise was sacked at the start of the year after a string of poor results in all competitions, and the task of saving the team from potential relegation has fallen to Claude Puel. It is the veteran coach's first job in four years. So far, his second spell at the club has helped to stabilise things somewhat. At least in the last round they finally broke an eight-match unbeaten run in the league, during which they have picked up just one point. A crushing away win over Nantes not only ended that dismal run, but also created a seven-point gap over the relegation zone, where the team currently finds itself. So the fight for survival is not an immediate threat for the Eagles, although a few more poor results could quickly change that. On the positive side, Nice are still in the Coupe de France, having reached the round of 16.

Nice have been inconsistent defensively this season, conceding at least one goal in 16 consecutive matches. In terms of goals conceded, the Eagles have the second-worst record, behind only bottom-placed Metz. However, in attack, Puel's men can boast one of the best performances among the lower-placed teams, with Cho and Diop playing key roles recently. So, despite the 4-1 defeat to Brest in the first leg, the Eagles have hope for revenge. They have not lost at home against this opponent in their last ten meetings. In the previous match at the Allianz Riviera, Nice won 6-0 in May 2025.

Brest

Brest have returned to their usual form after a few years of upturn that saw them finish third in the league and make their Champions League debut. However, with Roy on the bench, the Pirates have enjoyed stability and, despite having one of the smallest budgets in the league, the team remains competitive. The early season slump that saw them drop into the relegation zone was short-lived, and they are now alternating short runs of wins and losses, keeping them in mid-table – eight points above the relegation zone and ten within reach of the European places, confirming their mid-table status.

An early exit from the Coupe de France in the first round has given Brest an easier schedule for the rest of the season. The year started with a 2-0 home win over Auxerre, but then came two defeats to teams in the first half of the tournament. Away from home, Roy's team lost 1-2 to Lyon and at home to Toulouse 0-2. Overall, Brest have struggled to pick up points away from home, with just two wins and one draw this season. They have also conceded in seven consecutive away games.

Brest are almost on par with Nice in terms of goals scored. The Pirates have an advantage in not having a single outstanding scorer, meaning that threats can come from anywhere in the attack. So Rua's men could well take advantage of their opponent's difficult period and secure a positive result.

Nice - Brest: Predicted Lineups

Abdelmonem, Bombito and Ndayshimije remain in the Nice hospital, while the participation of Bard and Budaoui is questionable. Ba is also out due to accumulating yellow cards. Brest has injured players Balde and Loko.

Nice - Brest: Author's prediction

Nice has broken its unbeaten streak series in the last round, but there is no guarantee that they will not start a new one here. I expect a high-scoring game, and the guests will at least avoid defeat.