OGC Nice hosts Racing Club de Strasbourg as part of the 4th day of the 2023/2024 championship. Francesco Farioli’s men are still searching for their first victory of the season.
The final match for OGC Nice before the first international break of the season sees the Gym face Strasbourg this Sunday, September 3rd, at 5 PM. The Niçois are coming off a draw (0-0) last week against Olympique Lyonnais. The Aiglons have yet to win a game this season in Ligue 1. OGC Nice is coming off three draws in as many matches played.
The RCSA, on their part, is on a good streak. The Alsatians defeated OL (2-1) on the first day, before suffering a heavy loss to AS Monaco (3-0). Last weekend, Patrick Vieira’s men triumphed over Toulouse (2-0) at the Meinau. Strasbourg has six points and occupies the fifth position in the Ligue 1 standings.
With Aliou Baldé, Jérémie Boga back, Thuram unavailable
Francesco Farioli was at the pre-match press conference on Friday, with Sofiane Diop by his side. The Italian coach took the opportunity to discuss the transfer market, just hours before the closing of the summer transfer window. “I don’t think there will be any surprises by the end of the transfer window. We were already happy with the team at the beginning of the season, and we were able to add players to be even more competitive, so yes, I am satisfied,” summarized the Nice coach on the matter.
Absent from the last two matches of the Aiglons, Ivorian winger Jérémie Boga is back with the team. “He participated in part of the first training of the week, then progressively more in the following days. Jérémie started doing everything with the team yesterday (Thursday). He is fully available to start the match or come on as a substitute,” clarified Francesco Farioli.
Khéphren Thuram is unavailable. Having been uncertain for a long time due to a thigh issue, the tricolor midfielder will not participate in this match. Alexis Claude-Maurice (calf) and Antoine Mendy (in recovery) remain absent. Also noteworthy is the first inclusion in the squad of the latest Nice signing, winger Aliou Baldé. The Senegalese player arrived in the final moments of the summer transfer window.
Patrick Vieira’s return to Allianz Riviera
This match will also mark the return of Patrick Vieira to the Allianz Riviera stadium. The Strasbourg coach spent more than a year and a half leading the Nice club. “My experience in Nice made me grow. At the time, I had the goal of returning to Europe. I draw lessons from it and use this experience today in my daily life,” stated the 1998 World Cup champion at a press conference two days before the match.
The French coach will rely on a complete group, aside from the absence of Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, the best Strasbourg player at the start of this season, who was transferred in the final hours of the market to Wolverhampton. Kickoff at 5 PM this Sunday, September 3rd, at Allianz Riviera, the match will be broadcast live on Canal+Sport.
