Montpellier are still a long way from returning to Ligue 1, while OGC Nice are already not that far from Ligue 2, but for now these clubs will meet only in the Coupe de France round of 16.
For the hosts this is a repeat of last season, when they were surprisingly eliminated by Stade Briochin from Championnat National 2 (1:2). A defeat now is a very real possibility.
OGC Nice
Les Aiglons only ended their eight-match winless run in the penultimate Ligue 1 round, beating Nantes 4:1. Claude Puel's team also knocked out the same opponents in the Coupe de France round of 32 with a 2:1 win after extra time.
With the return of their former head coach, the team have shown some improvement, losing only twice in seven matches.
Montpellier
Montpellier, who were relegated to Ligue 2 without much of a fight last season, are now on the verge of the top half of the standings.
La Paillade were helped by two wins in the last league rounds – over relegation candidates Bastia (2:0) and mid-table EA Guingamp (3:1). In the previous round, they comfortably knocked out Metz 4:0, with Metz more focused on staying up in Ligue 1.
OGC Nice vs Montpellier Prediction
Will OGC Nice again treat the Coupe de France as a lower priority, as they did last season, given that they have a derby against AS Monaco at the weekend? The derby is far more important and significant for them.
However, the team's reputation has already been damaged, so the hosts are unlikely to treat this match as a mere formality. On the other hand, Montpellier are not so weak that they can be beaten without effort. We should expect only a narrow advantage for the hosts, no more than that.
