Only a victory will keep OGC Nice (4th with 60 points) hoping for a European qualification against an Olympique Lyonnais (3rd with 63 points) who they will need to defeat by a margin of 6 goals to surpass in the standings on goal difference. However, the threat also comes from Lille (4th with 60 points) who will face a Montpellier team that has nothing left to play for.
Admittedly, with a good result in Evian, the celebration would have been even sweeter, but who, even the most passionate supporter, would have imagined reaching the penultimate day with a few days before a gala match against Lyon that will be decisive for a place in European football, when in recent years we more often flirted with the relegation zone. It will be the cherry on a very fine cake that Claude Puel’s men will want to add before going head-to-head with the Corsicans of Ajaccio on the final day.
We know that Nice’s infirmary is fully stocked, but the Azur coach can still count on the pillars of a red and black eleven determined to fight to the end, as the eaglets know how to do. Usually, the aftermath of a heavy defeat is rather cheerful for the Niçois, and it would be good for habits to be confirmed against an Olympique Lyonnais who will come to the Côte d’Azur for the win to avoid the risk of seeing their hosts, Lille and Saint-Étienne, nearing in the standings. Therefore, it’s a match that will be worth its weight in points, and a victory for the eaglets coupled with defeats for Lille in Montpellier and Saint-Étienne at home facing Marseille, could place the Azurians in an excellent position before heading to the island of beauty, especially if Ajaccio (15th with 39 points) does not return empty-handed from their trip to Rennes.
So many possible scenarios with these last two days and direct matches between the contenders for Europe. Two victories in the next two matches, even if they couldn’t mathematically be enough, would at the very least leave no regrets for the Niçois. A European qualification would indeed be a true bonus in a season that saw the eaglets quickly exit the two cups (Round of 16 in the Coupe de France and quarter-final in the League Cup) but certainly was an advantage in their championship journey.
6 points and a little bit of luck that would go with it is all that Renato Civelli’s teammates are missing and could well delay a rumored departure if the club were to clinch a European qualification.
