OGC Nice returns to the Allianz Riviera this Sunday (2 pm) to face Saint-Etienne, 4th in the standings. A week after a great victory at Caen (3-2), the Eagles are hoping to earn points at home, where they haven’t won in 11 weeks (1-0 against Lille on September 24). A nice challenge before the holidays.
Ending gifts to opponents. For the last match of the year 2014 at the Allianz Riviera, the Eagles would like to finish on a high note by offering their supporters a victory. It has now been six matches without a win in all competitions, too many for a team aiming for the top half of the table. The last victory dates back to the end of September, a 1-0 win against Lille thanks to Mathieu Bodmer.
Before this 18th matchday, OGC Nice is in 11th place in the standings (21 points, 6 wins, 3 draws, 8 losses). The victory at Caen (3-2) reignited the team after a very difficult November. Claude Puel’s men have found renewed energy, good play, and a certain flair in attack. As a result, the Niçois are six points ahead of the first relegation spot and only three points behind the 8th place team, Montpellier. With four or six points from the last two matches of the first half of the season, the Gym could secure a spot in the top half of the table and enjoy a more peaceful holiday season.
“We had a good week to prepare for the match against St Etienne and work well. The two upcoming games (with Lens on December 19) will be important. After these two matches, it will be time to think about the rest: either we will be able to play at the top of the table more easily than in the first half of the season, or we will find ourselves in difficulty with teams catching up on us,” explained Mathieu Bodmer during the traditional press conference this Friday.
The Eagles can count on the return of captain Didier Digard, finally fit after a second calf injury. Mathieu Bodmer made his return at Caen and is aiming for a starting spot. Only Niklas Hult and Kevin Gomis will be missing. A nice problem for Claude Puel this Sunday noon when choosing the starting lineup.
At Saint-Etienne, everything is going very well in Ligue 1 but poorly in the Europa League. Winners of the derby against rival Lyon two weeks ago (3-0), morale is high, especially with the victories at Montpellier (2-0) and against Bastia (1-0). Christophe Galtier’s men are currently 4th in Ligue 1 and have not lost since October 5, a two-month unbeaten streak. But in the European Cup, the Greens were eliminated this week after a 1-0 defeat against Dnipropetrovsk (Ukraine), without having won a single match. Their European performances contrast with their quality displays in Ligue 1.
A formidable opponent for the Niçois, but one that played Thursday night in Ukraine in the Europa League, with all the known consequences (travel, fatigue, recovery). It’s up to the Eagles to show their best side to compete with the team in form in Ligue 1.
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