Four matches to reach a goal only just hoped for at the start of the season. And the first one will be played in the early afternoon at 2 PM, against a Stade Rennais which, on paper, has nothing to play for but will be eager not to lose in a Stade de la Route de Lorient that hasn’t been very favorable to them lately.
And for this perilous trip to Breton lands, Claude Puel can once again count on Ospina, Bauthéac, and Bosetti. Their returns will be very useful to take on Frédéric Antonetti’s men, who would certainly like to pin the eaglets to his trophy board before leaving the Rennes staff. For that, the island coach will have to do without his players in the infirmary: Théophile-Catherine, Apam, Danzé, Erding, and Kana-Biyik, and has therefore been forced to rejuvenate his squad for the reception of the Azuréens.
We know that the eaglets will fight until the end, and the early results are quite favorable to the Niçois with Saint-Etienne’s draw against Bordeaux (0-0) on Friday evening, and last night, Lille’s defeat at Toulouse (4-2). A great opportunity, therefore, in case of victory, to overtake these two contenders for Europe before Lyon’s complicated trip to Nancy, which, also in case of success, could move ahead of Sochaux and put the first relegation zone team, Evian, four points behind. Evian, which will be the next destination for the Niçois, next Sunday at 5 PM, and could very well be a four-point match for both teams.
Today’s challenge will be tough but within reach for the teammates of Renato Civelli, who has been imperial since the beginning of the season and who, like his teammates and many supporters, can perfectly imagine themselves at the heart of the new grand stadium of Nice for a European contest. But to achieve this dream, twelve points are available to the eaglets and the first three are to be taken this afternoon at the Stade de la Route de Lorient…
The OGC Nice squad
Goalkeepers: Delle, Ospina
Defenders: Civelli, Fofana, Genevois, Gomis, Kolodziejczak, Pejcinovic, G. Puel
Midfielders: Abriel, Bruins, Diaz, Digard, Rafetraniaina
Forwards: Bahoken, Bauthéac, Bosetti, Cvitanich
The Rennes squad: Costil, A. Diallo – Boye, Mensah, Foulquier, Mavinga, Moreira – A. Diarra, S. Diallo, Uzoenyi, Doucouré, Makoun, N’Gando, Féret, Konradsen, Pajot – F. Diarra, Montaño, Pitroipa
