The Champions League play-off draw has handed the Gym a tough opponent. A real mountain stands in the way of the Aiglons: SSC Napoli.
To hope for an unprecedented qualification in the group stage, Lucien Favre’s men, who eliminated Ajax Amsterdam this week in the third qualifying round (1-1 in the first leg, 2-2 in the return leg), will indeed have to emerge victorious from a two-legged tie against Napoli.
OGC Nice has joined the table of Europe’s greats and intends to take full advantage. In any case, at this level, it could only be tough, and Napoli is an opponent that both intimidates and inspires dreams. The Nice team knows they have nothing to lose and, even if eliminated, they can still compete in the Europa League group stage for the second consecutive year.
Last season, leading their group ahead of Benfica, Besiktas, and Dynamo Kiev, Maurizio Sarri’s men were defeated in the round of 16 by Real Madrid (6-2 on aggregate), before finishing third in Serie A, behind Juve and Roma. The Partenopei, who signed Bordeaux’s Adam Ounas this summer, can still rely on Marek Hamsik, José Callejón, Dries Mertens, and Lorenzo Insigne.
After a heated first leg at the San Paolo (on August 16), the Aiglons will be able to count on the support of their fans at the return match (on August 22) at the Allianz Riviera, eager to compare themselves against such a legendary club.
