After a cruel defeat in the Europa League, Nice must recover at Caen this Sunday (3 PM) to continue asserting their dominance in Ligue 1.
The Aiglons will be eager to erase the memory of Thursday night’s defeat to Salzburg (0-2). A defeat that has almost eliminated them from the race for qualification, or at least condemns them in Ligue 1.
The defeat did not sit well with Nice supporters: on Thursday night, the team fell apart. They were not up to the task and were outclassed by an opponent who had more desire.
The contrast is all the more striking since the Aiglons are faring well in Ligue 1 and dominating most of their opponents. Still unbeaten after 11 matches, the Gym is setting a relentless pace and establishing a champion’s rhythm: according to stats, Nice has a 75% chance of being champion this season.
Despite Monaco’s victory, Nice is guaranteed to stay at the top of the league for at least another week, even if they lose. This provides some reassurance before another international break followed by a match against Saint-Etienne.
The Opponent
During the summer, the emblematic Nicolas Seube, almost 37 years old, signed a one-year extension. Alexandre Raineau, after ten years at the club, Jonathan Beaulieu, Saidi Ntibazonkiza, and Cheick Traoré, however, were not retained.
The management announced six to eight new recruits, including midfielder Ismaël Diomandé, who was loaned to the club and whose purchase option (estimated at half a million euros) was exercised, and striker Pape Sané, who was recruited during the 2015-2016 season but finished his season at his club Bourg-en-Bresse Péronnas. Two experienced players joined as free agents: fullback Mouhamadou Dabo and midfielder Steed Malbranque.
On June 17, right-back Dennis Appiah, voted the best Caen player last season, was transferred to RSC Anderlecht for a fee estimated at three million euros. To replace him, the club recruited Romain Genevois, transferred from OGC Nice for 750,000 €. He signed a three-year contract. In attack, the club managed to acquire Ronny Rodelin definitively, who had an excellent season the previous year on loan, though they had not been able to agree financially at the end of the season. Faced with Andy Delort’s desire to leave, which led to him missing pre-season preparation deliberately, the club also recruited Croatian striker Ivan Santini from Standard Liège for 2.3 million euros. Delort was finally transferred to Tigres UANL on September 2, for a fee estimated at 7 to 8 million euros.
Caen is experiencing a complicated start to the season: the club is in eighteenth place in the league, with three wins, one draw, and seven defeats.
The Absentees
For Nice, the extended absences of Maxime Le Marchand, Mickaël Le Bihan, and Gautier Lloris (injured) continue to be an issue. Paul Baysse, also injured, is still absent.
For Caen, Mouhamadou Dabo (quadriceps), Jeff Louis (rehabilitation), and Julien Féret (adductors) remain unavailable. Recovered from their respective injuries, Syam Ben Youssef (adductors) and Emmanuel Imorou (back-knee-calf pains) will participate in the CFA 2 match.
The Caen Squad
Goalkeepers: Rémy Vercoutre, Paul Reulet
Defenders: Frédéric Guilbert, Romain Genevois, Alaeddine Yahia, Damien Da Silva, Jordan Adéoti, Vincent Bessat
Midfielders: Nicolas Seube (captain), Ismaël Diomandé, Jean-Victor Makengo, Jordan Leborgne, Jonathan Delaplace, Steed Malbranque
Forwards: Ronny Rodelin, Ivan Santini, Pape Sané, Yann Karamoh, Hervé Bazile.
The Nice Squad
Goalkeepers: Cardinale, Benitez.
Defenders: Souquet, Ricardo, Boscagli, Dalbert, Dante, Sarr.
Midfielders: Belhanda, Seri, Eysseric, Walter, Bodmer, Cyprien, Koziello.
Forwards: Balotelli, Plea, Donis.
The Referee
The main referee will be Mr. Johan Hamel. He will be assisted by Yannick Boutry and Pierre Chevreux. The substitute referee will be Stéphanie Frappart.
