Last year, it was David Bellion who allowed the Nice team to defeat the team from St. Étienne with a penalty in the final minutes of the game, enabling his teammates to return to the locker rooms with all three points from the victory with a score of 2 to 1. The same scenario would be ideal, and there is no doubt that Antonetti would eagerly accept the same final score. As for the field, there’s still uncertainty regarding who will be the goalkeeper defending Nice’s goals, as Letizi, who replaced the injured Lloris, is also struggling with his adductors. As for Hugo Lloris, the news is more than reassuring since the young Nice international’s MRI shows that an operation is not necessary, and he might even resume running as early as next week.
To his great surprise, it is young Jérémie Moreau who will make his debut in the first team, and what a debut, with a Nice vs. St. Étienne match on the agenda! The former Toulouse and Rouen player should, therefore, be able to experience his first Ligue 1 match unless Lionel Letizi manages a miraculous recovery. The Nice forward Habib Bamogo, one of the most in-form players at the moment, will also miss the confrontation with the team from Forez. For the rest of the group, there are no other bad news to report, and the island coach will be able to rely on his entire squad (except for the previously mentioned absentees) to form the team that will face this club he knows well, having led them to promotion to Ligue 1 before being let go by ungrateful shareholders. There will be a hint of revenge in the air on Saturday night alongside a stadium du Ray that is expected to be well-filled to welcome the Greens.
On the St. Étienne side, the recent victory (3-0) against Caen has boosted the morale of Laurent Roussey’s troops, and it is with confidence that Janot’s teammates will come to challenge the Eaglets, hoping to stop them in mid-flight to return to Forez with three points in the bag. In terms of injuries, the Brazilian Araujo Ilan might withdraw following a strain that forced him off the field during the last match against Caen, where he scored twice. It will also be the return to the nest for a former Eaglet, Cédric Varrault, who seems to have adapted well to his new colors, having started 7 out of the 8 matches played by his team.
Indeed, after the French XV who will face Ireland the previous evening, it is a green weekend that Nice is preparing to experience, hoping it won’t be green… with rage!
SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT
As the Nice-Saint Étienne match is classified as high-risk, security measures will be reinforced, and access difficulties to the stadium will be more numerous than usual!!!
Instructions:
- Only one access point to the various parking lots: go down Chevaliers de Malte Avenue to reach Gorbella Avenue, then go down to the stadium access passage via Georges Bidault Avenue.
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No vehicle access without proof (parking card, match ticket…)
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Immediate removal of vehicles parked on tramway lanes.
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Access to the north stand through the ‘presidential stand ticket office’ passage
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No visitor ticket office open
