It will be an Orange match tonight at the Stade du Ray, but the Red and Blacks would like to have everything in the green by the end of the game with, if possible, three points in a tally possibly counting sixteen units but only two points away from the first relegated team, Lens.
For Montpellier, the top position in the standings could be in sight in case of a victory in Nice territory. A duel that promises excitement for a Nice crowd that is expected to turn out in large numbers on the hills of Nie Nord, hoping to be thrilled by the exploits of their Eagles.
The task will be tough for Eric Roy’s men, who certainly just suffered a fall in Lyon but without deserving it, and who will be eager to erase the memory of last season’s Nice-Montpellier match, which saw the Hérault team win 3-0 at the very start of the championship. Good news too for the Nice coach with the returns of Civelli, Ben Saada, and Bagayoko, even though he will have to do without Pejcinovic (adductors), Digard (thigh), Hellebuyck (knee), Bamogo (thigh), and Mabiala (adductors).
Montpellier is full of confidence and, with a nice third place in the standings after a success at home against Toulouse (1-0) and a qualification for the semi-finals of the Coupe de la Ligue against Lille (2-1), there is no doubt that René Girard’s and Louis Nicollin’s men will come to Ray with the aim of at least sharing the points, and why not the perfect heist that could, depending on other results, lead them to the top of the Ligue 1 podium.
The Nice team
Goalkeepers: Ospina, Letizi
Defenders: Cantareil, Civelli, Clerc, Gace, Paisley
Midfielders: Ben Saada, Coulibaly, Diakité, Faé, Sablé, Traoré
Forwards: Bagayoko, Ljuboja, Mouloungui, Mounier, Poté, Quansah
STATISTICS NICE-MONTPELLIER
11 encounters
6 victories for Nice
3 draws
2 victories for Montpellier
17 goals for Nice
11 goals for Montpellier
