Brilliant victors over Toulouse (3-2) on the first day, OGC Nice travels to Lorient’s synthetic field this Saturday evening. Deprived of Bodmer, Digard, and Cvitanich, the task looks complicated against the Merlus who won against Monaco (2-1) last Sunday.
“The absent are always in the wrong.โ This expression will be tested this Saturday at the Moustoir Stadium in Lorient, a place where OGC Nice rarely excels (1 victory in the last 5 matches). Indeed, the news broke early in the week that Mathieu Bodmer, captain against Toulouse, will be out for a month due to a fractured rib. Besides Bodmer, Digard and “Super Dario” Cvitanich will miss the trip, the former due to lack of fitness and the latter with a thigh injury. Eric Bauthรฉac, substituted before halftime last week, still bothered by his knee, remains uncertain, especially on the synthetic field.
“Itโs not my cup of tea. I don’t find it coherent to play a championship where not everyone has the same playing surface. We need to adapt for one match,” regrets Claude Puel.
At the same time, Nice will retrieve its recruits: Pouplin, Diawara, and Vercauteren, absent last week.
A week after the show offered to the Allianz Riviera audience and this 3-2 victory thanks to Cvitanich twice and Bosetti, Claude Puel’s men will want to confirm their good start. In their new 4-3-3 system, with Valentin Eysseric and Niklas Hult in midfield supporting Cvitanich, the Niรงois create more opportunities and show promising gameplay.
“Weโve played together for 2-3 years with Eric (Bauthรฉac), Jรฉrรฉmy (Pied), and Dario (Cvitanich); Niklas (Hult) integrates very well. The 4-3-3 is a system to play. It worked well against Toulouse with plenty of playing time in the opponent’s half. It’s a setup where everyone has to battle for each other,” explains Valentin Eysseric, standout player against Toulouse.
Facing them, the Niรงois will have to deal with motivated Lorient players for their first home game this season. Surprise victors at Monaco (2-1), Sylvain Ripoll’s players, who arrived in June replacing Christian Gourcuff, wish to validate their good start to the season. For the occasion, summer recruits Jordan Ayew and Mehdi Mostefa should make their debuts. They will also reunite with their captain and sturdy defender, Bruno Ecuele Manga. The Merlus can also count on their goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte, in stellar form against Monaco, and their favorite striker, Vincent Aboubakar, who scored on the first day.
Photo Credit: ogcnice.com
