After the good point secured at Metz last week, Nice welcomes Nantes, 9th (at 5 p.m.). The objective is clear: to continue a “very high quality” January, according to Claude Puel, and to gain a few places in the standings.
Finally, on Tuesday, the Hatem Ben Arfa saga came to an end. Certainly, it ended negatively for the club and the player (he terminated his contract on Tuesday after the decision of the Administrative Court), but it had dragged on too long. Now, it’s time for sports, the real thing, the reality on the field. Claude Puel’s men return to the pitch at the Allianz Riviera, which has been favorable for them in this year 2015, with two good victories against Lorient (3-1) and Marseille (2-1).
“We had a very good January, I hope we are capable of repeating that. It’s not an easy match to play against a Nantes team that is good on counterattacks and strong in many areas. But when the overall attitude is good, the results are positive, and it’s easier for everyone,” explained Claude Puel during the traditional press meeting on Friday.
Although the result at Metz can be set aside (0-0 in dreadful conditions), the manner and solidarity should be remembered. Under the snow, with a sometimes invisible ball, the Nice team demonstrated great defensive solidarity and patience. Even with 10 against 11 (Maupay’s expulsion), they did not panic, which bodes well ahead of a pretty tough February. Still without Bodmer and Digard, Nice has a new absentee, Neal Maupay, suspended. However, Alassane Plea and Kevin Gomis are returning to the Nice squad.
But beware, this match will not be a walk in the park for the Niçois. On the opposite side, FC Nantes is a complicated team to play against, very solid defensively, apart from the heavy defeat at Montpellier (4-0). The men of Michel Der Zakarian are capable of the best, with a very nice 3-2 victory against Lyon in the French Cup, and the worst, with no victory in 2015 in Ligue 1. The Canaries can count on the return of their defensive weapon, Papy Djilobodji, from the CAN and Kian Hansen, who was absent for a month. It’s up front that things are stuck, with only 20 goals scored in 23 matches.
“The first match against them is not a good memory, but we must go through it to avoid repeating those performances. We work well during the week, in peace. It’s up to us to reproduce, on the weekend, the game plan developed in training,” announces Romain Genevois.
In the first match, Nantes won 2-1 (goals from Amavi own goal and Shechter for FCN and Amavi for OGCN) while creating numerous chances. But since then, the dynamics have completely reversed, and it’s the Niçois who arrive with boosted confidence. Everything to remain unbeaten at the Allianz Riviera in 2015…
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