Nice vs Auxerre: Ligue 1 Prediction (23.08.2025)

On Saturday, August 23, at 19:00 CEST, in the second round of the French Ligue 1, Nice will face Auxerre. Bookmakers give the visitors little chance of earning points here, strongly favoring the home side. Let’s review the current form of both teams at the start of the season and provide a prediction for this match.

Nice

Last season, Nice came just short of the Ligue 1 top three, finishing fourth and missing out on a Champions League spot by a single point to Monaco. That narrow gap proved costly. The “Eaglets” lost their direct route to the UCL, and their attempt to qualify through the playoffs ended in failure. They were beaten by Benfica in both legs without much resistance, each time 0–2.

Another worrying sign is their loss of attacking sharpness, which had been evident in friendlies but seemed to vanish at the decisive moment. To make matters worse, despite finishing fourth in Ligue 1, Nice were left without any European football at all, while fifth-placed Lille and sixth-placed Lyon went directly to the Europa League. This disappointment has hit the squad’s morale hard. In Ligue 1’s opening round, the “Eaglets” lost 0–1 to Toulouse.

Auxerre

Auxerre finished last Ligue 1 season in 11th place, with no real highs throughout the campaign. Their end-of-season form was especially poor, and given their modest squad, head coach Christophe Pélissier realistically could not aim much higher.

The summer transfer window also brought no major changes: the club couldn’t afford significant signings and must rely on the same core players. As a result, the “Blues” will once again depend on discipline and organization rather than individual talent. In the first round, Auxerre were fortunate to face a newly promoted side. Their 1–0 win against Lorient was not entirely convincing, as Pélissier’s men trailed in many statistical categories.

Head-to-head statistics

The last five head-to-head meetings highlight the competitiveness between these teams. Auxerre managed only one victory, while the other four matches ended in draws.

Prediction

For Nice vs Auxerre, the prediction leans toward the visitors. After three straight defeats to open their season, it will not be easy for the “Eaglets” to quickly rebound. Such results may have unsettled the squad. Therefore, the suggested bet is Auxerre to win with a +1 handicap at odds of 1.74.