This Saturday, OGC Nice hosts AJ Auxerre, as part of the 2nd matchday of Ligue 1. After a complicated start to the season, the Eagles want to bounce back, to finally kick off their 2025/26 campaign. All the pre-match information for this encounter can be found here.
Three official matches, three defeats, zero goals scored, five conceded. On the eve of this new encounter, the start to the season for OGC Nice could hardly be worse. Logically outplayed by Benfica in the 3rd preliminary round of the Champions League, the Eagles also fell last Saturday, against Toulouse (0-1), for the resumption of Ligue 1. Still too timid, Hicham Boudaoui’s teammates were punished in the final minutes of the match.
This weekend, OGC Nice finally has the opportunity to kick off its season. By chance of the calendar, the Gym has the opportunity to string together a second consecutive home game at the Allianz Riviera (kick-off this Saturday, August 23 at 7 PM) against AJ Auxerre. For this match, Franck Haise can count on the contribution of the latest summer signing for the Nice team, Kevin Carlos. Arriving from FC Basel earlier this week, the Spanish striker is expected to be part of the red and black squad.
Jonathan Clauss on his way out?
Clearly, nothing seems to be going in favor of OGC Nice. In a press conference, Franck Haise talked about Jonathan Clauss, who has been linked with Bayer Leverkusen in recent hours. “Jonathan wants to leave because he has a good offer. We want him to stay. On September 2, he might still be here. If he’s not, it means an offer came that respects all parties,” the Nice coach confirmed. Under these circumstances, the defender is unlikely to take the field on Saturday. One more absentee for the Gym!
As a reminder, Mohamed-Ali Cho, Ali Abdi, Dante, Youssouf Ndayishimiye, Moïse Bombito, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Tanguy Ndombele, and Morgan Sanson are still on the Azurean injury list. Absent since the beginning of the season, Pablo Rosario should make his return. Still looking to leave, the midfielder hasn’t found a new club. He had refused to take part in the first matches of the season to not interfere with his chances of leaving.
On the other hand, AJ Auxerre is not an opponent Nice handles well. Last year, upon their return to the elite, Christophe Pélissier‘s men remained unbeaten against the Eagles (one victory in the first match, draw in the return match). AJA has started well in this new Ligue 1 campaign. For the start, Kévin Danois‘s teammates won against FC Lorient (1-0).
Probable line-ups:
Nice: Diouf – Mendy, Bah, Oppong – Louchet, Boudaoui, Abdul Samed, Bard (C) – Bouanani, Moffi, Diop
Auxerre: Léon – Senaya, Osho, Sierralta, Akpa, Mensah – Danois, Owusu (C) – Casimir, Sinayoko, Osman.
