Angers v Nice: mid-table cushion meets survival fight | OneFootball

Angers host Nice in Ligue 1 on Saturday at Stade Raymond Kopa, with the hosts aiming to firm up a mid-table buffer and the visitors seeking breathing space above the relegation places.

Angers edged the reverse fixture 1-0 in December away to Nice, though the visitors have generally had the better of this match-up over time.

Form points to a tight game. Angers have two league wins in five, including away at Nantes after three straight defeats. Les Aiglons are winless in five Ligue 1 matches, though they did advance on penalties at Lorient in the cup.

Availability could matter. Angers are without suspended Yassin Belkhdim and injured Jacques Ekomie. Les Aiglons list several absentees, including Tanguy Ndombele, Isak Jansson, Ali Abdi and Mohamed Ali Cho.

Angles to watch: Angers have nine clean sheets and have conceded 30 goals in 25, with most of their strikes coming inside the box. Les Aiglons have allowed 48 league goals and kept three clean sheets, but they carry threat from wide through Jonathan Clauss, who leads their supply with five assists, while Sofiane Diop has seven league goals.

A home win would lift Angers to 35 points and further steady their season. Victory for Les Aiglons would take them to 27 points and could open daylight above the relegation play-off place.