It’s a perilous trip awaiting René Marsiglia’s men in a boiling Stéphanois cauldron that only awaits a victory from its side. A complicated match that is certainly not yet do-or-die for the Eaglets and is rather synonymous with Europe for the Greens.
18 points separate the two teams before tonight’s encounter and the predictions do not favor the Azuréens, but the last confrontations between the two clubs are rather in favor of Nice with 3 wins, 1 draw, and only 1 defeat for Nice in the 5 played. It’s safe to say that Christophe Galtier’s protégés will be very wary, knowing their hosts’ vital need for points this evening.
Therefore, it will ultimately be without Mouloungui, insufficiently recovered, that the Nice group will present themselves, certainly not as victims, at the Geoffroy Guichard stadium. No calculations will be needed, once again, and at least a point should be brought back while being attentive to the results of tonight’s other matches pitting Sochaux-Brest, Auxerre-Valenciennes, and Caen-Ajaccio, which will be played tomorrow.
Because the points will certainly still be very precious for these lower-table teams that are separated by less than 5 points. The harvest must therefore start on the Stéphanois pitch before hoping for better when receiving Lorient next weekend, before a complicated trip to Rennes, then welcoming another relegation candidate, Auxerre.
The road is still long, and we hope it’s less scattered with obstacles for the Eaglets. It is clear, however, that they will have to fight hard this year again to save their skin in Ligue 1, and it is hoped that this salvation will occur on the final day of May 20th at Gerland against an Olympique Lyonnais who might be playing for their ticket to the Champions League… But that’s another story!
The Nice Group
Goalkeepers: Fernandez, Ospina
Defenders: Civelli, Clerc, Gomis, Monzon
Midfielders: Abriel, Coulibaly, Diakité, Digard, Meriem, Palun, Sablé
Forwards: Dja Djedje, Gonçalves, Grandin, Guie Guie, Mounier
Absent
Anin, Hellebuyck, Mouloungui, Pejcinovic, Pentecôte (injured), Malaga, Veronese (coach’s decision)
Referees for St Etienne – Nice
The LFP has appointed the referees for the St Etienne – Nice match on Saturday, March 31 (30th day of Ligue 1). Nicolas Rainville will officiate at the whistle, assisted by Cédric Schurra and Huseyin Ocak. The fourth official will be Florrent Batta.
