This match is being talked about as a final, and it has all the ingredients. It’s a real six-pointer for René Marsiglia’s men; only a victory will do on Sunday evening, as it could also secure their place in Ligue 1 before a potentially complicated final day in Lyon.
But all of this, angel guardian Ospina’s teammates are well aware, and they will enter the Ray stadium with the determination inherent in this kind of fixture, which should be packed and adorned in its two favorite colors: Red and Black!
“It’s a good match to play. We’ll go there to win because that’s how you respect your opponent,” explains coach Correa, who, as we know him, won’t come to the Côte d’Azur to enjoy his first days of vacation. With Mongongu suspended, Pablo Correa will be able to field one of his preferred line-ups on the Nice turf on Sunday after falling to Lyon (1-3) in a postponed match played this week. But with safety secured for a long time, an unreachable European qualification, and a match just 48 hours ago against Lyon, the Evian side probably won’t be as driven as if they needed to rescue themselves from one or qualify for the other. But well, in football…
On the Nice side, they certainly won’t pay attention to such matters, nor should they dwell on the nerve-wracking match between Caen (15th) hosting Sochaux (17th) where a loss could be painfully damaging for the defeated, or even Dijon (19th) hosting Toulouse (8th) who still dream of Europe. No, the only thing that will matter, come Sunday evening, is the game, and the Aiglons will have to give their all to avert the worst, for a defeat or even a draw would be a cruel disappointment for the loyal Nice public who will necessarily be numerous at Ray once again to support their team in the storm. It will therefore be a real battle for the Nice players to fight, and even if today’s opponent seems to present without much ambition, one must still be wary of this Evian who has often made a sensation this year in Ligue 1.
Apart from Caen, Sochaux, and Dijon, who rank below OGC Nice, there’s also Ajaccio (16th), who will host OGC Nice’s next opponent Lyon (4th), then Brest (18th), who will host Valenciennes (12th), who have nothing to play for, and finally the bottom-placed Auxerre (20th), traveling to the neighboring Olympique de Marseille (10th). On paper, the situation seems promising for the Azuréens, provided they secure the three points, potentially wrapping up the season with a grand match at Gerland and allowing, who knows, some of the Gambardella-achievement actors to see the pitch for the first time.
There are therefore many reasons to believe, and the match should be worth attending for the lucky holders of a ticket still offered at 50% from the red and black house, which should be the ingredients for a delightful celebration this Sunday night at the Ray stadium.
And even looking closely, one can’t really see what might spoil it?
