The twenty Ligue 1 teams, with 12 matches left in the season, all have something to play for. The Lorient team, after three consecutive defeats, will look to return to winning ways and distance themselves from the relegation zone. The Nice team, unlike the Bretons, are on a four-game winning streak, having taken thirteen points out of a possible fifteen in the last five matches. This perfect run has allowed Frédéric Antonetti’s men to reach the sixteenth place, a position that would ensure their presence in the French football elite in the next season.
Baky Koné and Pancho Abardonado will return to the Moustoir field where they have shone. Christian Gourcuff’s men are much more comfortable playing away (with victories in Paris and Marseille) than at home, where they have suffered four defeats. The Eaglets recorded their first away win at the Stade Nungesser in Valenciennes during the 25th day.
The Nice squad: Letizi, Lloris, Abardonado, Fanni, Gace, Kanté, Scotto, Varrault, Veigneau, Diakité, Echouafni, Ederson, Rool, Vahirua, Bellion, Camara, Koné, Laslandes
The Lorient squad chosen includes:
Riou, Cappone; Morel, Marchal, Ciani, Jallet, Genton, Moullec; Le Pen, Ewolo, Mansouri, Abriel, Taïder; Namouchi, Saïfi, Gignac, Bourhani, Marlet.
Injured players
From Nice: Apam, Ederson, Traoré, Bellion in the recovery phase. Florent Balmont is suspended.
Pros
– Nice: The team is in high confidence and the attackers are in fine form, epitomized by Baky Koné.
– Lorient: Supported by the public and a complete squad except for Fabien Audard. The Merlus will be highly motivated to hope for a peaceful end to the season.
Cons
– Nice: Beware of overconfidence.
– Lorient: Doubt has set in after three consecutive defeats and the attackers have been lacking effectiveness for three matches.
