OGC Nice travels this Sunday (5:00 PM) to play against AS Nancy Lorraine. A perilous trip, but one that can allow the Eagles to keep the top spot in the league for at least a few days.
The Niçois were undoubtedly very attentive to the match of Paris Saint-Germain last night. On the turf of Toulouse, the Parisians faced a stronger team: result, a 2-0 defeat and an additional chance for Nice to remain at the top of the Ligue 1 standings. Currently, Nice and Toulouse are sharing the coveted first place.
Just four days after a fabulous derby (4-0 victory against Monaco) and two weeks after having subdued OM (3-2 against Marseille), the Gym travels to Nancy, promoted this season after two years in Ligue 2.
The only team still undefeated in the league this season visits the one that has only won once (against Lorient). The match appears unbalanced, but even if the Gym is favored, they must still be wary of their opponent.
The opponent
This summer, Nancy experienced a fairly calm transfer window, without major upheavals: the club registered the arrivals of Alou Diarra, Erick Cabaco, Christophe Mandanne, and Anthony Koura. Youssef Aït Bennasser was bought by Monaco but immediately loaned back to his club. Issar Dia and Vincent Marchetti also came to strengthen the Nancy squad. Not to forget the Belarusian goalkeeper Sergey Chernik, who arrived from BATE Borisov.
In the other direction, few departures are to be noted. Arnaud Lusamba joined… OGC Nice, six months after Rémi Walter. Iglesias and Quentin Beunardeau have also left.
In Ligue 1, the start of the season is sluggish for Pablo Correa’s men: Nancy began with three defeats (0-3 against Lyon, 2-0 at Rennes, and 0-2 against Guingamp) before recovering and chaining three matches without defeat: a 0-2 victory at Lorient and two draws against Nantes (1-1) then at Bastia (0-0). Before hosting Nice, Nancy occupies the seventeenth place in the standings.
The absentees
On the Nice side, the prolonged absences of Walter Benitez, Maxime Le Marchand, Mickaël Le Bihan, and Gautier Lloris (injured) are still to be lamented. Alexy Bosetti is also injured. Mario Balotelli, affected with a groin injury, is not part of the squad.
Lucien Favre also decided to do without Marcel, Burner, Benrahma, Caddy, Rafetraniaina, and Vercauteren, who are left available for the CFA.
Nancy, on their side, will have to do without Vincent Muratori and Youssef Aït Bennasser. Menay, Mabella, Diagne, Coulibaly, and Diarra were not selected.
The Nice squad
Goalkeepers: Cardinale, Hassen
Defenders: Baysse, Boscagli, Dalbert, Dante, Ricardo, Souquet, Sarr
Midfielders: Bodmer, Eysseric, Cyprien, Lusamba, Seri, Koziello, Walter
Forwards: Belhanda, Donis, Pléa
The Nancy squad
Goalkeepers: Ndy Assembe, Chernik
Defenders: Cuffaut, Cétout, Cabaco, Lenglet, Chrétien, Badila, Maouassa
Midfielders: Marchetti, N’Guessan, Pedretti, Guidileye, Robic, Puyo
Forwards: Dia, Mandanne, Hadji, Dalé, Koura
The referee
This seventh day of L1 will be refereed by Antony Gautier. He has already officiated a match for the Rouge and Noir during the season opener against Rennes (1-0). However, he will be encountering the Nancy team for the first time this season.
Photo credit and more information at www.ogcnice.com
