Hell, that’s what the people of Nice have promised to bring to Stade Louis II. ASM-OGC Nice, a match that is sure to be explosive. A recent poll on the official site named this derby as the fan-favorite match for this semi-final of the League Cup. Of nearly 7000 voters, half were hoping for this match, the rest were divided between Nancy and Le Mans. But why play AS Monaco when teams like Le Mans or Nancy might be more accessible (on paper) than the princely club?
There are several reasons for this fierce desire to clash with the Monegasque neighbor. There is a heightened rivalry between the two clubs and each year these matches are the ones the fans look forward to with the most fervor. Of course, the clash of cultures plays a big role, as does the proximity of the two cities. Whether at Ray or Louis II, OGC Nice plays at home. Patrice Evra’s provocations to the Nice ultras after his transfer to the principality also added fuel to the fire. But if there is one reason to highlight, in my opinion, it’s the match on October 2, 2004, where Victor Agali thrilled the Rock – 3 goals in 8 minutes – and won the hearts of an entire people. Everyone still remembers the atmosphere of the stadium decked out entirely in red and black, fully behind their players despite the score against us. And not to mention the jubilant comments from the journalists of France Bleu Azur. Joined by phone in his Turkish exile, the hero of this legendary match reflected on these comments: “The whole team felt the supporters behind us and with such support, we continued to fight. And from my first goal, we knew we could no longer lose.” In the return match, Ederson, the young Brazilian, finished anchoring these matches in the memory of Nice. His strike from over 30 meters that found its way into Fabien Audard’s net was magnificent, and the stadium still rumbles about it!
Monégasque ticket office blocks sales to people from Nice!
For all these reasons, everyone wants to be there. Unfortunately, it won’t be possible. First, the Louis II Stadium is not big enough to receive all the Nice supporters eager to come and support their team, which will definitely need it. But, more importantly, the problem comes from the Monégasque ticket office. It has caused issues once more, getting annoyed with the large numbers of people from Nice coming for these matches, the Monégasques have enacted a real discrimination in sales, refusing to sell tickets to Nice supporters except in the stands designated for them. But where there’s a will there’s a way, and many people from Nice have managed to circumvent these restrictions, even going so far as to disguise themselves as Monégasque supporters to get the precious entry tickets. One can only denounce such practices which go against the fair play so advocated by the governing bodies of French football. But despite this, the stadium should once again be red and black to push our eleven players towards victory.
To return to the context of the match itself. It has been nearly 10 years since all of Nice was awaiting such a cup run. Sure, it’s not the legendary Coupe de France, but this League Cup still has quite a national reputation. The fact that there aren’t many matches to play to qualify for the UEFA cup and the hefty sum intended for the winner, have made it a competition appreciated and coveted by all elite clubs. The gym hasn’t often shined in this cup but this year it’s different. The home campaign was very well managed by the club. The magnificent victory full of self-sacrifice and determination against the Girondins de Bordeaux in the quarter-finals convinced the players that they could achieve something this year. Olivier Echouafni had also repeated after the match: “We are gaining momentum. We are rewarded for all our efforts, new methods have been put in place, it’s not possible to succeed overnight. It takes time to adapt. Now, what we need is to go to the finals otherwise all this will have been for nothing.”
So, it is for a place in the final that OGC Nice heads to the Rock. Pumped up after a superb home victory against the unremarkable Lille, the Eaglets arrive as conquerors on the Rock. They are 90 minutes away, and possibly more if needed, from the Stade de France, a stadium that Nice’s supporters have never known; and they are eager for it…
