L’OGC Nice travels to Bordeaux this evening. A crucial encounter for Claude Puel’s men, who could, in case of defeat, see their opponents of the night come within a single point.
Monaco, Marseille, and now Bordeaux. OGC Nice is stringing together European clubs this February. With a defeat against AS Monaco and a draw against Olympique de Marseille, the eagles have seen certain chasers like Saint-Etienne and Lyon collect points and close in on them. But the Niçois no longer hide it: this third place is pleasant to occupy, and they won’t let it slip away so easily.
If OGC Nice was very comfortable away from home during the first leg (victory in Marseille, Saint-Etienne, and Rennes notably), that is no longer the case today: 3 draws and 3 defeats in the last 6 away games. And the GYM intends to regain victory for its first at Matmut Atlantique, the new home of Bordeaux.
But in Gironde, the eagles will not have an easy task. Bordeaux, occupying the ninth place in the standings, aims to take their revenge from the first leg. Remember, Willy Sagnol and his men were overwhelmed in Nice, last September 23, conceding a stinging 6-1 defeat.
“This match is primarily a revenge for the first leg,” declared the Bordeaux coach yesterday in a press conference. The Bordelais, who could, in case of victory, come within a single point of Mathieu Bodmer’s crew.
And for this second round, we take the same and start over since, as in the first leg, it’s Nicolas Rainville who will officiate this Bordeaux – Nice match.
OGC Nice intends to kickstart momentum in Bordeaux and maintain their third place at the end of this 27th day. A victory that would do wonders for the eagles, who will then host two poorly ranked opponents. A heated derby against Bastia next weekend, and the reception of bottom-of-the-table Troyes in two weeks.
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