Last day of the championship this weekend for the French clubs. This Saturday at 9 PM, OGC Nice will host Olympique Lyonnais in an atmosphere expected to be more festive than in recent weeks.
It’s high time it came to an end. With 55 points, the Gym has had nothing to play for in quite some time. In contrast to their opponent for the evening, whose objective will be clear: win to hope to secure fifth place, which would mean qualification for the Europa Conference League. To achieve this, they’ll have to rely on Rennes and Monaco losing.
On the Nice side, it’s a disaster. Didier Digard will have to field his starting eleven without Aaron Ramsey, Khephren Thuram, Youssouf Ndayishimiye, Joe Bryan, and Nicolas Pepe, who have been absent for a long time. Joining this list are the withdrawals of Youcef Atal, who went off against Montpellier with a groin strain, and Bilal Brahimi who is injured in the thigh. Sick, Ross Barkley, who scored against Montpellier, did not train this week, but his presence in the squad should not be in doubt.
Hugo Lloris Honored
While the Populaire Sud is expected to make itself heard once again to “have a nice pre-game party at the truck, and sing for our team to wrap up another really beautiful crappy season,” as indicated on their Facebook group, the stadium will also be quite packed as the opening of the third tier of Ray and Garibaldi stands suggests.
Perhaps due to the Hugo Lloris effect. The Nice-born goalkeeper, 2018 World Cup champion with 145 selections for the French team, will be present before the match. First, at the National Sport Museum at 7 PM for a meet-and-greet with fans, and then ahead of kick-off to receive the Aiglon of the Century award.
