Nice — Lyon : Match Preview and Prediction for October 18,2025

Nice’s Season Start

Franck Haise’s Nice have had a rather sluggish start to the current season. The “Red-and-Blacks” underwent significant squad changes and immediately stumbled in the Champions League qualifiers against Benfica (0-2, 0-2). In the league, Nice currently occupies a relatively low position, especially considering the club’s ambitions in recent years for a team from the French Riviera.

Recent Performance and Injury Woes

The final week before the international break continued this difficult trend. First, the French side suffered their second defeat in the Europa League, losing 1-2 to Domenico Tedesco’s Fenerbahçe. This was followed by a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Adi Hütter’s Monaco. Against Monaco, Nice even held a 2-0 lead during the match, but Abdi’s red card ultimately led to a draw. In addition to the suspended Abdi, the hosts will be without Bombitto, Moffi, Abdel Monem, Ndombele, and Ndshamiyie against Lyon, as the team’s injury list has significantly grown during this international hiatus.

Lyon’s Strong Start

Paulo Fonseca’s Lyon has had a rather impressive start to the season. Were it not for the 1-2 home defeat to Toulouse just before the international break, everything would have been perfect. As it stands, Olympique remains 4th in the French championship, having secured 5 victories in their last 7 matches.

European Form and Squad Depth

Nonetheless, their Europa League campaign has been flawless with two wins from two matches. The team, by and large, plays with great flair and has achieved 7 victories in 9 games since the start of the season. The break certainly allowed the visitors to catch their breath and continue their fight for a return to the Champions League next season. Lyon will be without Deschamps, Mangala, and Nuamah against Nice, but these absences are considerably less significant compared to their opponent’s injury list.