We remember it as if it were yesterday. During the first leg at Gerland, Nice, then second in the standings, defeated three goals to two, had conceded a non-existent penalty (an extremely harsh handball called against Vincent Hognon). This penalty led to strong controversy over a perpetual and possible favoritism of the referees towards OL for several years.
The people of Nice are thus keen to erase what remains a great disappointment in their minds and those of the fans. But a question arises: in what state of mind will the Eagles approach the match? A defeat at Valenciennes (1-0) last week and a huge blow on Wednesday. OGC Nice was ignominiously eliminated in the semi-finals of the League Cup by Vannes (1-1, 4 penalties to 3), promoted this season to L2 and seventh in the standings after twenty-one days. A terrible disillusionment three years after reaching the finals of the competition.
At home, the Azurรฉens have only one loss in the league for five wins and four draws. Abroad, Lyon has won six times.
Lyon No Longer Roars
However, OL no longer instills fear. Irregular, less powerful and weakened by injuries (Clerc, Rรฉveillรจre, Govou, Bodmer, and Delgado absent), the Lyonnais have been groping in the dark for a few matches. They just let slip two more points, on their turf, in the title race. In the derby against Saint-Etienne, Olympique Lyonnais did not dominate excessively. Worse, completely absent in the game in the second half, they nearly lost their first regional duel since 1994! That would have been a real affront to Jean-Michel Aulas’s club. Although Lyon comes off two consecutive away wins (0-1 in Caen and 0-2 in Grenoble), it no longer roars and has only a slender one-point lead over Bordeaux. The Girondins are traveling to Marseille on Sunday at 9 pm.
Over the last ten confrontations at the Ray, Nice has won only once, with three draws and six defeats. The last Nice victory dates back to the tenth day of the 95/96 season. This match will also be an opportunity to see Hugo Lloris and Honorato Ederson, while Loรฏc Rรฉmy, the Gym’s scorer, will play against his former club.
A High-Risk Match
This game is expected to occur in a highly tense atmosphere following the banner incident. On September 15, 2007, at a rest area, while both teams were playing away, Lyon ultras stole the banner of Brigade Sud Nice, their counterparts from Nice. The two groups have already clashed several times since this episode, and the meeting is high-risk.
Security measures have been strengthened. Three companies of riot police will be present. 120 Nice stewards, accompanied by 10 Lyon stewards and 90 ticket controllers, will ensure proper conduct in the stands. 200 supporters from OL are expected.
Against Vannes, Nice supporters threw objects onto the pitch and used flares. The club was summoned by the League’s discipline committee on February 19 and risks a pitch suspension or a match behind closed doors in case of recurrence.
