One might almost believe that a curse has fallen on OGC Nice in recent weeks. After Ospina and Bodmer, it’s Bauthéac’s turn to join the infirmary for a minimum of three weeks.
Add to that the suspensions of Cvitanich and Mendy, and it’s clear that Claude Puel won’t have an easy task composing his starting eleven against Saint-Etienne, next Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Allianz Riviera. With three defeats in their last three matches, the eaglets will certainly have the desire to exit a vicious spiral that led them from the top of the standings to their current 13th position. Certainly, the defeat in Paris was more than predictable, but another setback against the Stéphanois, and the risk of seeing Evian hosting Lorient, Toulouse going to Lille, or Montpellier welcoming Guingamp surpassing the Niçois, becomes very significant.
For this, the azure coach’s protégés will have to present themselves in commando mode against a Saint-Etienne lineup that ranks 9th with just one point more than their future opponents. After their last home defeat in the derby against Lyon (1-2), it’s undoubtedly clear that Christophe Galtier’s men will come to the Côte d’Azur to recover lost points. With two victories (Ajaccio: 0-1 and Valenciennes: 1-3) and a draw (Sochaux: 0-0) away, the greens will come to Nice, if not for the heist of the century, at least to try to bring back a point from the capital of the Côte d’Azur.
A match that will be worth its weight in points for each team before a perilous trip for the Niçois to Lorient preceding the much-awaited derby against Monaco, and for the Stéphanois, the reception of Reims and a trip to Rennes. Every point taken will be crucial for two teams that haven’t really launched their season yet, which had a poor start with a premature exit from the European Cup.
Woe to the vanquished!
Photo credit: www.nicepremium.fr
