Six days after their triumph in Guingamp, Nice hosts Lyon, a formidable Ligue 1 challenger (3rd), this Saturday evening. The Eagles blew hot and cold in the Coupe de la Ligue this week against Metz (3-3, 2-3 on penalties) while Lyon comes off a solid victory last Sunday against the Marseille leader.
A gala match at the Allianz Rivera but without the Populaire Sud supporters (temporarily suspended after the Bastia incidents), an absence that will matter in the crucial moments of this encounter against Lyon. This was evident against Metz on Wednesday, as the stadium felt rather empty when the Eagles needed support to qualify. Currently 7th, three points behind their opponent tonight, Lyon 3rd, Nice can thank Carlos Eduardo, who scored five times in Guingamp. Without those three points, the Eagles might have slipped into the lower half of the table and lost the confidence built up in September.
Claude Puel can count on the return of “Super” Dario Cvitanich, who scored a penalty against Metz. In 40 minutes, the Argentine has already shown how indispensable he is in the attack, looking fit despite a six-week absence. His pairing with Carlos Eduardo in the playmaker role could prove explosive. The bad news comes from Didier Digard, the Nice captain, injured again in a calf (the left one against Metz, the right one earlier in the season), sidelined for an indefinite period. With Niklas Hult and Albert in the team but still uncertain, it’s a conundrum in the midfield for the red and black coach. Who will support Nampalys Mendy? It’s as an outsider that Nice hosts Olympique Lyonnais but not without ambitions after unsettling Monaco and Lille.
“Recently, we’ve been scoring from great plays, which is important. Seeing our number 9s score (Cvitanich, Pléa, Bosetti, Maupay) is good for confidence. It’s a big match ahead, but it’s Lyon’s turn to show what they’ve got,” explained Mathieu Bodmer at a press conference this week.
On Lyon’s side, everything is going well. The in-form team of Ligue 1 has impressed for nearly a month, with a remarkable climb in the standings (3rd) after a very difficult August (17th on August 31st). The great victory in the Olympico (OL-OM) and Gourcuff’s new goal (his 3rd in 2 matches) position Lyon as favorites in this encounter. However, the Gones will have to do without some key players like captain Maxime Gonalons, suspended, and Jordan Ferri, injured for several weeks. And it was learned earlier in the evening, the man in form of October, Yoann Gourcuff, will not make the trip. Injured in the adductors, he is out for this clash on the 12th matchday. If OL is unbeaten since August 31st and the defeat at Metz (2-1), Hubert Fournier’s men have still not won an away game this season (2 draws, 2 losses).
“Lyon is a team that plays freely. They’ve found balance, even more so with the return of injured players. On our side, we continue to work collectively. In this match, we have everything to gain, it’s up to Lyon to justify their new status,” Claude Puel said to the press on Thursday.
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