Only three small points separate OGC Nice, 14th in the standings, and Caen, 18th and first in the relegation zone. This will therefore be a match that will be worth its weight in points for both sides, particularly for the Normans, who would like to take advantage of Auxerre’s trip to Marseille and Nancy’s trip to Sochaux to escape the red zone. For this, Franck Dumas’s men will need to achieve a good result on the Côte d’Azur.
On the Nice side, the recent defeats against Lille in the Coupe de France and Marseille in the championship must now unfortunately be a thing of the past, and it is in commando mode that Eric Roy’s protégés must present themselves this Sunday at the Ray with a mission far from impossible: to clinch the 3 points of victory. It certainly won’t be easy against an opponent who is also fighting for survival in every Ligue 1 match and who experienced a gloomy April with three defeats at Lille (3-1), at home against PSG (1-2), and at Sochaux (3-2), with only a small draw in the last home game against Toulouse (1-1). Not an easy task at all for the Caen team, who will also have to face major league teams such as Rennes, Lyon, or Marseille.
If the last Nice-Caen games have been quite balanced in the last three encounters — a draw last year (2-2), a Nice victory in 2008 (3-1), and a Caen victory in 2005 (0-1) — it is quite tricky to risk a prediction as both teams have an urgent need for points. With eight goals conceded in only three matches, the Nice defense will have to be more vigilant, hoping that the attackers from the Côte d’Azur will be as determined as they were at the Marseille stadium, where Ben Saada and company made the Marseille giants doubt.
On the field, David Hellebuyck, who has rejoined his teammates after a long absence (he underwent knee surgery at the end of last August), will be an additional asset in the Nice game, especially if he repeats his very good performance in Marseille with 10 minutes of very high-level play. Unfortunately, the principle of communicating vessels applies once again in the Nice infirmary, which sees the arrival of Julien Sablé, who was injured in the adductors in Marseille, while there is still doubt about the presence of Didier Digard and Anthony Mounier. Drissa Diakité, suspended in Marseille, will make his return to the team.
So see you this Sunday, May 1, at 5 p.m. at the Ray stadium for Labor Day… well done!
The referees for the match
The LFP has appointed the referees for the Nice vs. Caen match on Sunday, May 1 (33rd day of Ligue 1). Saïd Ennjimi will be the main referee, assisted by Frédéric Cano and Fabrice Plancon. The fourth official will be Didier Falcone.
Nice vs. Caen at a special price
To gather as many supporters as possible behind the team against Caen, Sunday at 5 p.m., OGC Nice is once again offering reduced prices in favor of its supporters.
Presidential: €25
Honneurs: €15
Première Sud: €12
Seconde Haute: €8
Seconde Basse: €6
