For this second day of Ligue 1, Eric Roy’s men will go to challenge Evian-Thonon-Gaillard on their turf for the first time, at least in the French championship since the two teams faced off during the preparation phase with a victory for the Savoyards by a score of two goals to zero. Having been defeated by Lyon at home on the first day, Nice will nonetheless present themselves ambitiously against Bernard Casoni’s protégés.
Evian-Thonon-Gaillard’s coach has announced an almost complete squad for the reception of Nice on Sunday. Sorlin, who has an issue with his thigh, will be absent, but on the other hand, Barbosa and Sagbo, returning from suspension, and Khelifa, finally qualified, are there to try to offer a first home victory to an audience that is expected to come in large numbers to support their favorites. On the OGC Nice side, Eric Roy will be able to count on Fabrice Abriel, who should debut in his red and black jersey on Sunday, but will have to do without his defender François Clerc, who was injured last Saturday against Lyon (1-3) and is suffering from a slight psoas tear. Both teams therefore present themselves with their best assets, with perhaps a slight advantage to the Savoyards, who had a good start with a draw (2-2) in Brest on the first day.
It will be a 9th-place Evian hosting an 18th-place OGC Nice, and while a victory for the hosts could push them up in the rankings, a defeat for the visitors might even mean the bottom of the table. A risky match, therefore, for the Eaglets who, if they haven’t been plucked by the Lyon ogre, will have to raise their game to hope to trouble these ambitious newcomers with sharp teeth, featuring two seasoned Ligue 1 veterans in Jérôme Leroy and Sidney Govou. Caution is warranted! One might advise the Nice team, who face a promising test away from home before taking on Toulouse twice, at home in the league and in the pink city for the Coupe de la Ligue round of 32.
Two players to watch after rather mediocre first performances on the first day are the two goalkeepers, David Ospina and Quentin Westberg, who will certainly be eager to show that their initial blunder is now just a bad memory. While the Colombian seems indisputable for the No. 1 spot, Evian TG is looking for its first guardian angel, which according to the Dauphiné Libéré, could be AS Roma’s Italian keeper, Gianluca Curci.
So, see you this Sunday at 5 pm for this first away match for Nice, who might find themselves more comfortable away than at home due to their offensive deficiencies and defensive solidity…
