A home win is expected from this fixture if the league table is anything to judge by. The home fans are optimistic that the difference between 6th and 14th place in the table will show on the pitch.
Clermont and Niort should both be in good shape for this meeting, as there's been enough days for both of them to train and rest since their last matches.
Clermont form and stats
The home fans haven’t been spoiled with victories in the Ligue 2 this season. Clermont have only managed 1 win, 3 draws and 3 losses from their games here at Stade Gabriel Montpied. We have seen two home losses in a row now for Clermont, who are hoping that the phrase “third time lucky” applies to them.
The home team returns to Stade Gabriel Montpied after sharing the points with Ajaccio (placed 3rd) on their last time out; the Ligue 2 game ended 1-1. Prior to that was the away defeat visiting Bergerac (0-1).
The manager P. Gastien will start preparations for the next game as soon this is finished, as the hosts are going to Grenoble Foot 38 in only four days.
Clermont are certainly not overdoing their scoring at home in league matches, having created 7 goals in 7 games. Clermont have conceded 8 in these home matches.
Niort form and stats
2 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses. That’s the product of Niort playing as the away team in the Ligue 2 this season. The pressure to perform on the road is increasing on P. Plancque, the Niort manager, as the last three away games were defeats.
The supporters enjoyed Niort's previous game versus Rodez (placed 12th), a Ligue 2 2-1 win played at home. A 1-1 draw at Châteauroux's stadium before that.
A new game in only four days for Niort, the Ligue 2 home match versus Ajaccio. Busy days.
The visitors have scored 6 goals from 7 away games in the league, an average of less than one per game. Niort have conceded 9 goals in these away matches.
Head 2 Head
Head-to-head totals (for the last ten meetings): Clermont won 2 games, 5 matches ended with a draw and Niort has 3 wins. Over 2,5 goals / under 2,5 goals: 5 / 5Top Goalscorers
  A. Grbic 9 goals |   I. Sissoko 8 goals |  F. Ogier 2 goals |
Clermont missing players
Niort missing players
| Clermont | Niort | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 15 | 7 | 2 | Played | P | 2 | 7 | 15 |
| 6 | 1 | 1 | Won | W | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 4 | 3 | 0 | Drew | D | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 5 | 3 | 1 | Lost | L | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 16 | 7 | 3 | Scored | S | 2 | 6 | 14 |
| 16 | 8 | 1 | Conceded | C | 3 | 9 | 18 |
| 100% | 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 100% | 93% |
| 67% | 71% | 50% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 100% | 57% | 67% |
| 33% | 29% | 50% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 50% | 29% | 33% |
| 13% | 14% | 0% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 0% | 14% | 13% |
| 0% | 0% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 14% | 7% |
| 40% | 43% | 0% | BTTS | BTTS | 100% | 57% | 47% |
| 27% | 14% | 50% | Clean Sheets | C S | 0% | 29% | 27% |
| 33% | 43% | 50% | Failed to Score | F T | 0% | 14% | 33% |
| 5.1 | 5.9 | 7.5 | Corners For (avg) | C F | 2 | 4.6 | 3.9 |
| 3.4 | 2.3 | 2 | Corners Against (avg) | C A | 4.5 | 5.7 | 5.7 |
| 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.5 | Yellow Cards (avg) | Y C | 3 | 2.3 | 1.9 |
| 2 | 2 | 1 | Red Cards | R C | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 164 | 81 | 24 | Total Shots | T S | 10 | 56 | 125 |
| 68 | 34 | 10 | Shots on Target | S O | 3 | 20 | 50 |
| 24% | 21% | 30% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 67% | 30% | 28% |
- Clermont have won at least twice as many corners as they have conceded at home.
- Clermont haven’t played a single 0-0 game.
- Niort haven’t played a single 0-0 game away.
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Lens | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 24 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 31 |
| 2 | Lorient | 15 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 23 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 7 | 12 | 30 |
| 3 | Ajaccio | 15 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 18 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 27 |
| 4 | Troyes | 15 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 17 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 26 |
| 5 | Sochaux | 15 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 25 |
| 6 | Le Havre | 15 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 23 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 22 |
| 7 | Clermont | 15 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 16 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 22 |
| 8 | Grenoble Foot 38 | 15 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 14 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 21 |
| 9 | Guingamp | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 23 | 21 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 2 | 20 |
| 10 | Nancy | 15 | 3 | 11 | 1 | 15 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 20 |
| 11 | Valenciennes | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | -2 | 20 |
| 12 | Rodez | 15 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 19 | 20 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 11 | -1 | 18 |
| 13 | Auxerre | 15 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 18 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 17 |
| 14 | Niort | 15 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 14 | 18 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 9 | -4 | 17 |
| 15 | Caen | 15 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 16 | 20 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 8 | -4 | 16 |
| 16 | Chambly | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 17 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 6 | -6 | 16 |
| 17 | Paris | 15 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 19 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 8 | -9 | 15 |
| 18 | Châteauroux | 15 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 9 | -9 | 14 |
| 19 | Le Mans | 15 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 16 | 26 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 16 | -10 | 14 |
| 20 | Orléans | 15 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 19 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -9 | 9 |