The severe weather affecting the South of France for a few hours will ultimately not hinder the smooth running of OM-Nice at the Vรฉlodrome (5 PM). A match that OM approaches with full confidence against a Nice team frustrated by the draw conceded against Sochaux at Ray Stadium last Sunday (1-1).
For a long time, the threat of postponement loomed over the OM-Nice match due to the storms that hit the South of France this weekend. But the match delegate, Rรฉmy Kremer, finally decided to proceed with the fixture, with the kickoff set for 5 PM.
On the Nice side, frustration has been fueling talks since the draw against Sochaux at Ray Stadium last Sunday (1-1), as reflected by their coach, Eric Roy. โWe would have liked to go to Marseille with more points,โ declared the coach of the Eaglets this week on the official Gym website.
Not an ideal mindset to prepare for such a match. Especially since OM is regaining confidence today.
OM, valuable tactical shift
Didier Deschamps’ men are on a promising streak of four unbeaten matches. The reasons for this revival of pride? A noticeable change in the players’ mindset, but above all, a game-changing tactical adjustment.
Deschamps, an advocate of the 4-3-3, switched to a 4-4-2 formation, at the expense of the Argentine playmaker Lucho Gonzalez, thus yielding to popular demand.
A mini-revolution that now benefits former Nice player Loรฏc Rรฉmy and Ghanaian winger Andrรฉ Ayew, both having scored five goals together in the last four matches.
Nice must capitalize on open spaces
A caveat, however: the two latest victories of the “new OM” in Ligue 1 have been achieved against two promoted teams (Ajaccio, 2-0, and Dijon, 4-0). While OGC Nice is not a powerhouse of the league, OM must remain vigilant in defense.
Last Sunday, the Eaglets showed very interesting offensive intentions against Sochaux, as demonstrated by Anthony Mounier and Eric Mouloungui. The two Nice attackers would do well to replicate their performance.
Provided they direct play into the channels and capitalize on the spaces. The Marseille defense is not fully reliable and the Gym possesses undeniable offensive potential. The challenge remains to convert it into results.
