Nice vs Lille – News and Probable Lineups

In a matchup between the top and bottom teams in Ligue 1 this weekend, Lille will be traveling to the southern part of France to take on Nice at the Allianz Riviera on Sunday.

As they head into this fixture, Le Gym finds themselves at the bottom of the standings, having only accumulated two points after a narrow 1-0 defeat against Auxerre in their last game, while Lille holds the top position after four rounds, having secured a 2-0 victory over Troyes last weekend.

Match overview

While plenty of matches remain in this season, Nice is not aiding their cause domestically in the current 2026-27 campaign.

Having barely managed to avoid relegation through the playoffs last season, this side is currently one of three clubs in the league that have yet to register a win, alongside Le Havre and Toulouse as they approach matchday five.

Under Olivier Pantaloni, the squad has struggled significantly in the attacking department, with Nice managing to find the net just once in the league, making them the lowest scorers in Ligue 1.

Looking back at the last season, this team has dropped points in 12 consecutive Ligue 1 matches, and on Sunday, they risk starting a top-flight season without a win in their first five games for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign.

If there’s a glimmer of hope, it could be the possibility of extending their unbeaten home run in this competition to five games, with Nice having conceded one goal or fewer in each of those matches.

Les Aiglons have remained unbeaten in their last four home encounters against Lille, including a 2-0 win in this exact fixture last season.

Conversely, Lille seems to be in excellent form, finding the back of the net in every one of their competitive matches this season.

Davide Ancelotti’s side quickly rebounded from their Europa League disappointment against Real Betis (3-2 defeat), putting in a solid display last Sunday where they restricted Troyes to just two shots on target and only 36% possession.

Entering matchday five, they are currently ahead of Mônaco on goal difference, and on Sunday, they have the potential to earn points in their first five league outings for the first time since winning this competition in the 2020-21 season.

Defensively, Lille has been formidable away from Stade Pierre Mauroy, achieving eight consecutive away victories in Ligue 1 since last season, with five of those matches ending without conceding a goal.

They have an opportunity on Sunday to register three consecutive wins in this competition as visitors for the first time in the 21st century.

Les Dogues have not secured maximum points from a Ligue 1 match in Nice since 2022 and failed to find the back of the net in both meetings against them last season.

Team News

For this match, Nice is expected to be without Laurent Abergel due to a knee issue, while Moise Bombito is still recovering from a lower leg injury, and Antonie Mendy is dealing with a cruciate ligament tear.

Morgan Sanson and Salis Abdul Samed are both doubtful as they aim to recover from their respective injuries.

As for Lille, there is only one significant injury concern, with Hamza Igamane out due to a cruciate ligament injury.

Tiago Santos and Ethan Mbappe Lottin both scored for Lille on matchday four, while Berke Ozer achieved his third clean sheet of the Ligue 1 season, placing him tied for second among goalkeepers in this regard with Kevin Trapp of Paris FC.

Nice probable starting XI:

Diouf; Abdelmonem, Ndayishimiye, Mandza; Clauss, Coulibaly, Witsel, Abdi; Diop, Wahi; Amoura

Lille probable starting XI:

Ozer; Saints, Ngoy, Alexander, Perraud; Mukau, Bentaleb; Lottin, Haraldsson, Andrew; Giroud

Nice has continued where they left off last season, maintaining their poor performance in the 2026-27 season, while Lille possesses numerous tactics to overcome their opponents. Their depth across all positions should be sufficient to prevail against Nice, who are undergoing a significant crisis of confidence.