OGC Nice – PSG: a showcase match against an almost irresistible leader

This Saturday, OGC Nice hosts PSG for the occasion of the 27th day of Ligue 1. After his success against Angers which allowed him to move away from the relegation zone last week, Gym wants to continue its renewal against the championship leader. All the information for the pre-match of this encounter is available right here.

An Elye Wahi back is a Wahi scorer! Following the very good performance of his star striker – author of a goal and an assist – OGC Nice went on to secure a very important victory on the pitch of Angers (2-0). Because these three points allowed the Eagles to end a streak of six matches without success in Ligue 1, but especially to take a suitable distance from the red zone and the race for survival. If Gym remains still buried in a disappointing 15th place, the Niçoise club now has an eight-point lead over the current playoff team, AJ Auxerre. Nevertheless, Nice’s survival is still far from assured, and the men of Claude Puel will have to collect as many points as possible during the last eight matches of this championship to keep their place in the elite of French football.

For that, the teammates of Sofiane Diop will have to topple the current leader of this Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain (kickoff of the match this Saturday, 9 p.m., at the Allianz Riviera). In other words, the task looks tough, but Nice is obligated to pick up points. During the first match, the Eagles had long resisted the numerous Parisian attacks and offensives. Before finally succumbing in the final seconds and the last corner of the match (0-1). It should also be noted that Franck Haise, then in position at the time, had opted for a particularly defensive tactical approach on the Parc des Princes pitch. Without success!

Can Wahi start this match?

It’s the big question around the Nice camp. After his decisive return against Angers, Elye Wahi has once again proven that there was an OGC Nice with and without him. More technical, more clinical in front of goal, more decisive, the striker – just selected for the first time with Ivory Coast – presents a profile more compatible with his teammates than the disappointing Kévin Carlos. Against Paris, Wahi should not however play the entire match. His physical condition, still frail since his return from injury, would not allow him to go 90 minutes at 100% of his fitness.

For the rest, OGC Nice – which announced the signings of the first professional contracts for Mantsounga and Everton – remains without Mohamed Abdelmonem, Peprah Oppong, Ali Abdi, Moïse Bombito, Isak Jansson, Mohamed-Ali Cho and Tanguy Ndombele, injured or in recovery phase. No returns are noted regarding the winning group from last week on the SCO pitch.

Across from them, Paris Saint-Germain occupies the top of the championship, with one point ahead (and a game in hand), of its runner-up, RC Lens. Tuesday, Luis Enrique’s players validated their place in the Champions League quarter-finals after their new success against Chelsea (5-2, 3-0). The capital’s men had not played a Ligue 1 match last week, their match against Nantes had been postponed to allow them to focus on this double European confrontation. For this trip to Nice, PSG will be without Bradley Barcola and Fabian Ruiz, injured, but also Achraf Hakimi, suspended.

Probable lineups:

OGC Nice: Diouf – Clauss, Mendy, Dante (C), Bard – Sanson, Vanhoutte, Boudaoui – Louchet, Wahi, Boudache

Paris: Safonov – Zaïre-Emery, Beraldo, Zabarnyi, Hernandez – Lee, Vitinha (C), Fernandez – Doué, Mayulu, Mbaye.