This is surely one of the most important matches in the contemporary history of the club. At the Stade de France, at 9 PM, Christophe Galtier’s Aiglons will have to give it their all to beat Antoine Kombouaré’s Canaries.
A match for the history books, to ignite an entire city.
After defeating Cholet (0-1), PSG (0-0 / 5 pen 6), OM (4-1), and Versailles (2-0), the Aiglons have already had a great run, but they can reach for the stars by winning the fourth Coupe de France in their history, ending a 25-year trophy drought.
Nantes Players to Watch
To do this, the players from OGC Nice will need to be careful of several Nantes players capable of making a difference and posing significant challenges to Le Gym:
Alban Lafont: The 23-year-old goalkeeper is one of the best in the league. This season, in Ligue 1, he shone against big teams, notably against PSG where he managed to receive the ultimate rating in L’Équipe: 10/10. Rémy Descamps, the substitute who played the last matches of the competition, should have retained the starting spot for the final as is the case for Bulka. However, Kombouaré made a decision to trust Lafont. There’s no doubt he won’t make things easy for the Nice attackers.
Andrei Girotto: The Brazilian is not an exceptional defender, but he is a key leader on the Nantes team. Whether playing as a central defender or a defensive midfielder, he is often decisive on set pieces, whether it’s heading from a corner or a powerful shot from a free kick. He scored in this manner during the last encounter between Nantes and Nice.
Randal Kolo Muani: He will surely be in the starting eleven of the former PSG coach. The 23-year-old forward scored 13 goals and provided 7 assists this season across all competitions. The Gym’s defense will need to be very careful not to be caught by his dribbles and speed, which he will surely try to exploit in depth. The Bondy native has already signed a contract with Frankfurt, which he will join at the end of the season; he will surely want to end his journey at La Beaujoire on a high note.
Ludovic Blas: The former Guingamp player will also be someone to keep at bay. The Canaries’ number 10 dictates the entire game for his team. Capable of scoring as well as delivering excellent passes to his attackers. He is having the best season of his career with 13 goals and 3 assists. He will need to be closely marked with no freedom given to him.
Moses Simon: He is one of the best wingers in Ligue 1 this season. Like Blas, he is having the best season of his career with 6 goals and 8 assists. Very active on his left side, the Nigerian can easily outstrip opponents thanks to his dribbles and burst of speed. Once past, he can deliver excellent crosses for his teammates or move into the center to shoot.
The Canaries’ Journey
Nantes’ journey to this final hasn’t been easy at all. The Canaries had to successively defeat since their entry in the round of 64: FC Sochaux (0-0, 4 pen 5), AS Vitré (2-0), Stade Brestois (2-0), SC Bastia (2-0), and AS Monaco (2-2, 4 pen 2). They have eliminated two Ligue 1 teams and impressed with their defensive solidity by conceding their first goals only in the semi-final!
The Probable Lineups:
FC Nantes in 3-4-3:
Lafont – Appiah, Castelletto, Pallois – Fabio or Coco, Girotto, Chirivella, Merlin – Blas, Kolo Muani, Simon.
OGC Nice in 4-4-2:
Benitez – Lotomba or Daniliuc, Todibo, Dante, Bard – Boudaoui or Kluivert, Rosario, Thuram or Lemina, Brahimi or Kluivert – Delort, Gouiri
Tune in tonight at 9 PM to possibly witness a victory for OGC Nice! ISSA NISSA!
