Prediction Nice vs Olympique Lyonnais 2025/2026 – Betting Tips for the Ligue 1 on 18/10/2025

Context and stakes at the Allianz Riviera

Nice welcome Olympique Lyonnais to the Allianz Riviera on 18 October 2025 in what promises to be one of the more intriguing matchups of Ligue 1’s eighth round. The fixture carries the weight of contrasting trajectories: Nice sit 12th in the table after seven games with eight points, while Lyon occupy fourth with a healthy 15 points. The stage is Nice’s comfortable 36,178-capacity home in Nice, and referee Jérôme Brisard will oversee a clash where margins have been tight in the market, with bookmakers offering 2.44 for the home win, 3.40 for a draw and 2.74 for the visitors.

Form, momentum and recent results

Formally, Olympique Lyonnais arrive with markedly better consistency. The visitors have recorded five wins and only two losses across seven league matches, and their recent sequence includes a string of victories in both domestic and continental fixtures, punctuated most recently by a 1-2 reversal at home to Toulouse on 5 October where Martín Satriano was the standout with a 7.54 rating despite the loss. Lyon’s defence has been a hallmark of their campaign — five clean sheets already reflect a team that can stifle chances and force opponents into mistakes.

Nice, by contrast, have been unpredictable. Their recent results show a team capable of flashes — a 2-2 draw at Monaco on 5 October highlighted Sofiane Diop’s influence — but also vulnerable to heavy defeats, exemplified by a 4-1 loss at Brest in September and narrow losses in cup-style fixtures. Overall Nice have scored nine and conceded twelve this season, and their away defensive record reads particularly poorly with nine conceded on the road, indicating potential vulnerability when Lyon press.

Tactical clues from the numbers

Shot and attack metrics suggest Nice are aggressive in territory and attempts: 96 total shots and an attacks average of 96.43 reflect a side that probes frequently, while Lyon’s 84 shots and an attacks average of 90.29 show efficiency rather than volume. Lyon’s superior clean sheet count (five) and a goals conceded tally of just five underline defensive discipline. Both teams have shown a moderate frequency for matches over 2.5 goals — Nice slightly higher at 57.14% compared to Lyon’s 42.86% — so there is scope for goals, but Lyon’s defensive solidity could limit a high-scoring outcome.

Betting suggestion Given the balance of form, defensive security and head-to-head precedence — Lyon beat Nice 2-0 in their meeting earlier in 2025 — the value pick in the 1X2 market leans to Olympique Lyonnais to win. The away price of 2.74 offers attractive value against Lyon’s evident ability to grind out results and keep clean sheets, while Nice’s inconsistency, particularly away from home, provides the edge for a visitor victory.