This Saturday, OGC Nice hosts Racing Club de Lens on the occasion of matchday 32 of Ligue 1. Not yet mathematically safe, the Gym is in urgent need of picking up points this weekend, against an opponent they will face again in the French Cup final at the end of May. All the pre-match information for this encounter is to be discovered.
The final before its time! While OGC Nice and RC Lens will face off in the French Cup final at the Stade de France, May 22 next, the two teams meet this weekend on the occasion of a league match (kick-off on Saturday at 9:05 PM, at the Allianz Riviera). In this final sprint of Ligue 1, nothing is yet settled for Claude Puel’s men. The Eagles are moving closer to difficult survival, but this is not yet completely assured mathematically. Three matches from the end of the championship, Elye Wahi‘s teammates have a five-point lead over Auxerre, in the playoff spot. A Nice victory against the Lens side, combined with a defeat for AJA against Angers at the same time, would definitively seal the Azurean club’s survival in the top flight.
After a difficult season, OGC Nice is getting closer. Last weekend, the Eagles secured a valuable point in the survival race during the derby against Olympique de Marseille (1-1). Trailing on the scoreboard, the Nice players showed character and pride, in the wake of Wahi scoring a sublime panenka penalty, to avoid another defeat in the clash against their Olympian rivals. This spirit, defensive solidity, and collective solidarity will need to be maintained to pull off another feat this Saturday at the Allianz Riviera.
Elye Wahi heading for a forfeit
What was supposed to be a routine end-of-season match has transformed into a final dress rehearsal before the French Cup final. Nice and Lens will meet again in just over three weeks to compete for the trophy of the most mythical of French football competitions. But this time, there should be no Elye Wahi in the Eagles’ camp. According to Nice-Matin, the red and black striker is suffering from a thigh problem after pain that occurred this week during a training session. No risks will be taken with the in-form man of the moment, especially regarding the major Nice challenges of this end of season.
Besides Wahi, the OGC Nice coach will be able to count on virtually all his available players. Mohamed Abdelmonem is still not operational. While Moïse Bombito returned to collective training this week, it is still too early to hope to see the Canadian international make his return to the red and black squad. Everything is fine for the rest, even for Kaïl Boudache. The young Eagle – announced to be close to signing his first professional contract with Lyon – will indeed be present on the teamsheet for this match.
On the other side, RC Lens occupies 2nd place in Ligue 1, with 38 more points than Nice. Six points behind Paris Saint-Germain, the Red and Golds are still mathematically in contention for the title. Pierre Sage‘s players arrive on the Côte d’Azur with great ambitions: anything other than a victory will not suit the Artesian club. After being led 0-3 at Brest last weekend, Malang Sarr‘s teammates managed to turn the match around after the break, leaving with the draw point at the end of that encounter (3-3).
Probable lineups:
Nice: Diouf – Clauss, Mendy, Oppong, Bah, Bard – Sanson (C), Abdul Samed, Boudaoui – Cho, Wahi
Lens: Risser – Ganiou, Baidoo, Sarr – Abdulhamid, Thomasson (C), Sangaré, Udol – Thauvin, Edouard, Saint-Maximin
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