Eliminated by Valenciennes in the 32nd final of the Coupe de France (2-0) last week, OGC Nice needs to respond this Saturday (8 PM) with a match against Lorient at home. The arrival of Hatem Ben Arfa on Monday has brought some freshness to a team that is only three points ahead of the relegation zone. It’s time for action.
“Restart the year because we haven’t started it.” This phrase, signed Claude Puel, well summarizes the importance of the match against Lorient. The defeat and elimination at Valenciennes have left a mark; the Aiglons need to truly kick off their 2015 year. With only one victory in the last eleven matches across all competitions, the Gym is slipping in the rankings and causing concern. Despite having a young and quality squad, it is struggling to materialize on the pitch.
“We must continue to work hard, be more meticulous. We lack efficiency despite our opportunities. It’s important to score the first goal; we’re not doing it. As a result, we are chasing the score,” lamented Niklas Hult before the press.
The public at Allianz Riviera has been waiting for a success since last September 24th (1-0 against Lille). The transition to the new year could be synonymous with victory against a hesitant opponent. Lorient is also in trouble, sitting 15th with only one point ahead of Evian, the first relegated team. The Merlus were eliminated last week by Avranches (National) in the Coupe de France and have won only once in the last five matches in Ligue 1. Confidence is down on both sides.
“Lorient is a dangerous team that, like us, goes through positive and negative cycles. It’s a direct competitor in our zone, so it’s a challenge. At the moment, we haven’t shown up against these teams,” explained Claude Puel during the traditional press briefing.
On the Nice side, the ‘star’ signing Hatem Ben Arfa is included in the squad announced by Claude Puel. It remains to be seen if he will start for the first time or be a substitute. However, Lloyd Palun is absent (gone to AFCON) as well as Didier Digard (calf). Dario Cvitanich, meanwhile, never returned from vacation and has left Nice to join the club Pachuca in Mexico (see inset).
Lorient is depleted by absences. Between a slew of injuries and departures to the African Cup of Nations, 10 players will be missing, including key starters: Jordan Ayew, Alain Traoré, Lamine Gassama (AFCON), as well as Jouffre, Pelé, Koné, and Audard, all injured. The FCL can count on its man in form, the Portuguese international Raphaël Guerreiro, who has scored four goals and made two assists since the start of the season.
Last season, Lorient crushed OGC Nice with an Aboubakar goal in the 91st minute for a 2-1 defeat. In the first leg in August, Claude Puel’s men secured a good 0-0 draw in Brittany. It’s up to the Aiglons to avenge the 2013-2014 affront and bring back a smile to the Nice public.
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