On the Nice side, Loïc Rémy is expected to be on the pitch at the Ray for this first match before heading to new English or French horizons, while Eric Roy, who is starting his first season as the coach of OGC Nice, declares that his players are “ready to take on the challenge!” And God knows that the challenge will be significant in a Ligue 1 where the slightest misstep brings you closer to the bottom of the table, where the red and black house is never really comfortable, if indeed one can be when approaching the dreaded last place. Nemanja Pejcinovic is currently the only real recruit, even though Anthony Modeste has returned from loan and Julien Berthomier and Luca Veronese have crossed the border from the training center to the professional group.
It will thus be a true full-scale test awaiting the eaglets against Valenciennes before heading to Lorient (14/08), hosting Nancy (21/08) and then going to Lille (28/08). An action-packed August for the people of Nice, who hope to accumulate points before facing the big teams of Ligue 1 such as Bordeaux, Marseille, Lyon, PSG, or Monaco.
The first act, therefore, is this Saturday, August 7 at 9 pm, with the aim of securing the three points that everyone hopes to have in their pocket after the first 90 minutes of a championship that promises to be open and exciting in this 2010-2011 season.
The Squad
Goalkeepers: Letizi, Ospina
Defenders: Cantereil, Civelli, Diakité, Gace, Pejcinovic, Quartey
Midfielders: Ben Saada, Faé, Hellebuyck, Sablé
Forwards: Bamogo, Mouloungui, Mounier, Poté, Quansah, Rémy
Opening act
As in previous matches at the Ray, the opening act will see the OGC Nice rookies in action on the Ray’s pitch. Under the guidance of Christian Massa and Dédé Donati, the last U9s who have not yet participated in these opening acts have invited two teams from Valbonne.
