Postponed during December, the Côte d’Azur derby will finally take place this Wednesday evening (7 p.m.). Despite the inconvenient timing, the Aiglons will be eager to shine following their success against Bordeaux.
Between the two scheduled dates, AS Monaco took advantage of the winter transfer window to recruit 4 players (Naldo, Fodé Ballo-Touré, Cesc Fabregas, and William Vainqueur). While the first three mentioned were fielded in Marseille this Sunday (20th day of L1, 1-1), none of them will be able to participate in the first match against the Aiglons.
Indeed, Article 538 of the French Championship regulations stipulates that “in case of a replay or postponed match, only players qualified in the club during the initial encounter are authorized to participate.”
On the other hand, suspensions are served during matches played from the effective date of the sanction. This point of regulation concerns Christophe Hérelle, whose probation was revoked due to the warning received in Toulouse (4-1 in the 32nd final of the Coupe de France). The defender (17 starts in L1) was suspended for one match starting January 14. Since the derby is the first match played after this date, the defender will not be able to step on the Louis-II pitch this Wednesday.
THE MONÉGASQUE SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Benaglio, Subasic, Sy, Badiashile
Defenders: Barreca, Badiashile, Biancone, Glik, Henrichs, Jemerson, Panzo, Serrano, Sidibé
Midfielders: Aït-Bennasser, Diop, Faivre, Golovin, Grandsir, Massengo, Lopes, Pelé, Navarro, Tielemans, Thuram
Forwards: Falcao, Sylla
THE NICE SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Benitez, Clémentia
Defenders: Sarr, Burner, Dante, Coly, Pelmard, Atal, Jallet
Midfielders: Walter, Cyprien, Tameze, Makengo, Danilo
Forwards: Saint-Maximin, Ganago, Sacko, Sylvestre
THE REFEREE
Benoît Bastien will referee OGC Nice for the second time this season on the occasion of the derby, Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Louis-II stadium. He notably officiated the match between Nîmes and the Gym on the 13th day (victory for the Aiglons 0-1). The 35-year-old referee has never officiated a match of AS Monaco during the current campaign. He will be assisted by Frédéric Haquette and Icham Zakrani.
