OGC Nice begins its year 2017 with an away game at Le Moustoir in Lorient (2:15 PM) to try and reach the round of 32 of the Coupe de France.
This season, Nice crossed paths with Lorient only once, which was on October 2nd. The Aiglons won at the end of the match thanks to a superb goal by Mario Balotelli, while Benjamin Moukandjo had equalized after Ricardo Pereira opened the score.
For Arnaud Souquet, this match will likely have a special flavor: “I experienced the Cup as an amateur. With Poirée-sur-Vie we reached the round of 16, where we were eliminated by Auxerre (1-1, 5 penalties to 6 in 2015). There is a lot of excitement surrounding this competition, which brings the entire football family together. All the matches are difficult because the ‘smaller teams’ can topple a higher-level team. The Cup is a story of men. It’s also a pleasure for the supporters. It could be beautiful to take them to the Stade de France. It’s an opportunity to experience a beautiful human and sporting story.”
The absentees
There will be many absentees on the Nice side: Mika Seri is at the AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations), Valentin Eysseric, Dante, and Younès Belhanda are injured. The latter, like Mario Balotelli, is suspended anyway. Paul Baysse and Yoan Cardinale will also be unfit to play the match at Lorient.
The Lorient squad
Goalkeepers: Lecomte, Delecroix
Defenders: Le Goff, Moreira, Koffi, Lautoa, Ciani, Rose, Bellugou
Midfielders: Cafu, Guendouzi, Mvuemba, Mesloub, Cabot, Mara
Forwards: Jeannot, Aliadière, Marveaux
The Nice squad
Goalkeepers: Benitez, Pouplin
Defenders: Le Marchand, Ricardo, Sarr, Dalbert, Souquet, Burner, Balmy, Perraud
Midfielders: Cyprien, Koziello, Walter, Lusamba, Marcel
Forwards: Plea, Bosetti, Mahou
The referee
The referee for the match will be Olivier Thual. He will be assisted by Cyril Saint-Cricq Lompre and Frédéric Hebrard.
