The Aiglons host Monaco (5 PM) after a challenging start to the season. With the transfer window closed, this derby will be a true first test for Nice.
In 4 L1 matchdays, the men from the Rock have not left a single crumb in their wake. With 12 points taken from 12 available, the co-best attack in the country alongside Paris (with 14 goals scored) is trailing only behind the men from the capital, on the highest step of the podium, due to two small goals conceded (4 in total). Their captain, Radamel Falcao, has scored half of Monaco’s goals since the start of the campaign (7). Such an individual start hasn’t been witnessed by the elite since 2001/2002 and the rise of a certain Djibril Cissé.
The red and white team’s early run follows in the footsteps of the second half of the last championship. One statistic perfectly illustrates this observation: ASM hasn’t been defeated in L1 since last December 18, at Louis-II, against Lyon (3-1). Since then, they have stacked up 22 wins and 2 draws, spanning two seasons. Well-established in a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 “with the wingers inside” (says Lucien Favre), which doesn’t vary and represents one of their great strengths.
The continuity of performance and system is nonetheless paired with some changes within the squad. Compared to the previous promotion, Benjamin Mendy (left for Manchester City), Tiémoué Bakayoko (Chelsea), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Kylian Mbappé (Paris), and Valère Germain (Marseille) have left the Principality. These departures have been offset by familiar faces (Moutinho in midfield, Jorge at the back); the retention of “guardians of the temple” (Subasic, Glik, Jemerson, Sidibé, Raggi, Fabinho, Lemar, Falcao), and talented recruits. In terms of arrivals, Youri Tielemans (ex Anderlecht), Keita Baldé (Lazio), Stevan Jovetic (Inter Milan), Rachid Ghezzal (Lyon), Rony Lopes (back from loan at Lille), and Adama Diakhaby (Rennes) have, among others, joined Leonardo Jardim’s squad.
THE NICE SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Cardinale, Benitez
Defenders: Jallet, Souquet, Coly, Marlon, Le Marchand
Midfielders: Koziello, Mendy, Seri, Lusamba, Walter, Lees-Melou
Forwards: Balotelli, Plea, Saint-Maximin, Srarfi, Ganago
THE MONACO SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Subasic, Benaglio, Sy
Defenders: Glik, Jemerson, Jorge, Raggi, Sidibé, Touré
Midfielders: Fabinho, Lemar, Moutinho, Rony Lopes, Tielemans, A.Traore
Forwards: Baldé, Carrillo, Diakhaby, Falcao, Ghezzal, Jovetic
THE REFEREE
The match will be refereed by Clément Turpin, assisted by Cyril Gringore and Nicolas Danos. The fourth referee will be Johan Hamel.
