It is undoubtedly the clash of this 27th day between OGC Nice, currently in 4th place in the Ligue 1 standings, who travel to their direct pursuer, AS Saint-Etienne, who are just a single point behind the Aiglons. A meeting that will have a strong European scent for two teams that have known it well in past times.
This Saint-Etienne-Nice match is likely to be worth the visit, and it’s a shame that Dario Cvitanich is not yet fully recovered from his injury, as he would have been most useful in the famous green cauldron. Especially since OGC Nice is a real nemesis for the Stéphanois, who have lost on their home turf in the last four encounters (3-2 last season, 2-0 in 2010/2011 and 2009/2010, and 1-0 in 2008/2009). Undefeated in 2013, the Greens will be eager to put an end to this black series and thus kill two birds with one stone by moving up in the standings ahead of their opponents with a win.
But before that, Christophe Galtier’s men will certainly have to work hard because OGC Nice on the road is far from easy this year. True, the qualification achieved this Tuesday in the French Cup against Lille (3-2) will uplift the hearts of the Stéphanois, but as appetite comes with eating, it will be a hungry Nice team that heads to Geoffroy-Guichard with the firm intention of bringing something back as they did in Lille, Brest, or Bastia. After all, no one is expected to do the impossible, and the least one can say is that the Aiglons are pushing the boundaries of their past impossibilities this year.
And on the Nice side, the calculation is simple. With a victory, not only will they distance a direct competitor in the European race by leaving them four points behind, but they could also climb onto the podium if Marseille performs poorly at home against Troyes, who are struggling and desperately in need of points. It will then be time to think about the reception of Montpellier on Sunday, March 10th at 2 p.m., and then the trip to Nancy before the big derby against the neighboring Marseille team, which is likely to be a grand and beautiful event in a Ray stadium that will certainly be too small to accommodate all the die-hard football fans.
Such a beautiful season in red and black!
The Nice Squad
Claude Puel has selected a group of 20 players for the trip to St Etienne. The Nice coach does not recover any of last weekend’s absentees. Abriel is suspended.
Goalkeepers: Delle, Ospina
Defenders: Berthomier, Civelli, Gomis, Kolodziejczak, Palun, Pejcinovic, Puel, Rougeaux
Midfielders: Anin, Bruins, Dada, Diaz, Digard, Eysseric, Meriem
Forwards: Bauthéac, Bosetti, Maupay
Absent: Cvitanich, Dao Castellana, Fofana, Genevois, Hennion, M’Bow, Pentecôte, Pied, Traoré (injured), Abriel (suspended), Bahoken (coach’s choice)
The Stéphanois Squad
Zouma and Nicolita are back in the Stéphanois squad chosen by Christophe Galtier for the match against the Gym this Saturday evening at 8 p.m. Alonso is the only absentee.
The squad: Moulin, Ruffier – Brison, Clerc, Ghoulam, Mignot, Perrin, Bayal Sall, Zouma – Bodmer, Clément, Cohade, Guilavogui, Lemoine, Nicolita – Aubameyang, Brandao, Gradel, Hamouma, Mollo
Referees for St Etienne – Nice
The LFP has appointed the referees for the St Etienne – Nice match on Saturday, February 23rd (27th day of Ligue 1). Bartolomeu Varela will officiate the match, assisted by Matthieu Lombard and Fredji Harchay. The fourth referee will be Frank Schneider.
