The season is already resuming at the red and black house, which reopened its doors yesterday late afternoon with a small meeting followed by a training session that smelled like a fresh start. Today, physical tests are on the schedule, followed by medical tests on Wednesday and Thursday.
There are no major changes at the club for now, with the only finalized arrival being Nampalys Mendy from Monaco. However, there are many rumors, more or less insistent, such as the loan with an option to buy for Christian Brรผls (La Gantoise) or the transfer of Argentine Santiago Vergini (Newell’s Old Boys). As for contract extensions, Eric Bauthรฉac and David Ospina are expected to continue their red and black adventure unless there is a surprise. Concerning departures, nothing is clear yet regarding the Cvitanich case, which should be resolved in the coming days.
Behind the scenes, the LFP’s Disciplinary Committee, following “the use of 54 pyrotechnic devices which delayed the kickoff and the throwing of a sand-filled bottle onto the field towards the players,” has decided to impose a match to be played behind closed doors on OGC Nice. The reception of Stade Rennais on August 17 will therefore be played in an empty Ray, for one of the last matches in the historic stadium of the city of Nice before the move to the brand new Allianz Riviera. Regarding the Ray, UEFA has granted an exceptional waiver for OGC Nice to play their home matches there, meaning their first European clash (August 22 and 29) will be played on the Nice hill, pending further matches against prestigious opponents like Valencia, Lazio of Rome, Tottenham, Dynamo Kiev, or Fiorentina, should they qualify, at the Allianz Riviera.
The countdown is well and truly on before the first day of Ligue 1, which will take Claude Puel’s protรฉgรฉs to Lyon on August 10, before receiving Rennes, then traveling to Ajaccio, hosting Montpellier, and going to Lille. This schedule will be interrupted by the two European encounters scheduled for August 22 and 29.
A studious start for the “Aiglons” who are getting ready to experience a season unlike any other, at least not like recent ones, with this scent of Europe that smells much better than the usual scent of relegation.
