After the high-intensity match on Wednesday against Saint-Etienne, the Aiglons will host for the second time this week in their stronghold, on Saturday with Lille.
Wednesday evening, OGC Nice experienced a whirlwind of emotions. In the first half, the team was overwhelmed, conceding two goals to the Greens. In the second half, the Aiglons raised their game and turned the situation around by scoring 4 goals. However, after the final whistle, the joy of victory was overshadowed by insulting chants from the Tribune Populaire Sud about Emiliano Sala (a former Nantes player who died in a plane crash) and Stéphanie Frappart (the referee of the French Cup final).
Therefore, this crucial match in the race for Europe and the podium will be played in a tense atmosphere this Saturday. The Nice team will have to rise above all this tension and play freely, as they did in the second half against ASSE.
Even though they are not fighting for survival, the season has been a great disappointment for the fans of the northern club, Lille. Ligue 1 champions last season under the management of Christophe Galtier, the Lille team is tenth in the standings, far from the European spots. The LOSC therefore does not have much at stake at the end of this season, but these last matches will surely mark the end of an era with the very likely departures of Jocelyn Gourvennec, the coach who poorly replaced Galtier, and many key locker room players like Renato Sanches, Jonathan David, and Burak Yilmaz. The Lille players will surely want to end this 2021-2022 campaign on a high note, which signifies the end of their adventure in the North. Additionally, they likely remember the first-leg match where the Azuréens won 4-0 at Pierre Mauroy.
Jocelyn Gourvennec will rely on several players to try to leave on a good note. He will most likely start the Canadian Jonathan David, who will probably play one of his last matches with the LOSC. Having scored 17 goals this season, including 13 in the championship, the Brooklyn native can be dangerous with his speed and excellent finishing. Attention will also be needed for his offensive partner, the veteran Turkish player Burak Yilmaz. Less brilliant than last year, this fierce striker is still important in Lille and brings size and physical prowess to the front of the attack. Wingers Bamba and Zhegrova can also make differences on the sides to break into the middle and strike or make strikes themselves. However, the Breton tactician will be limited in his choices as 5 northern players are unavailable for this match.
On the Azuréens’ side, a similar lineup to the one against Saint-Etienne is expected. Daniliuc and Brahimi, who were rather convincing, could be starters again. Mario Lemina will likely return to the bench with the end of Khephren Thuram‘s suspension. In attack, Delort, who was extraordinary against ASSE, will certainly be in the lineup, but it is uncertain whether Gouiri will be replaced by Guessand, who made a good entry.
The probable line-ups:
OGC Nice in 4-4-2:
Benitez – Daniliuc, Todibo, Dante, Bard – Kluivert, Rosario, Thuram, Brahimi or Stengs – Delort, Gouiri or Guessand
LOSC in 4-4-2:
Jardim – Celik, Fonte, Djalo, Gudmansson – Zhegrova, Onana, Gomes, Bamba – Yilmaz, David
