With Rennes hosting Monaco and Bordeaux traveling to Lyon, all hopes and dreams are allowed for the Nice team, who must avoid falling into a trap game as sometimes happens when facing a low-ranked opponent. Indeed, if the results are favorable and with a victory over Nantes, a third-place finish could be within reach at the end of this 14th day of the Ligue 1 championship. But the die is not yet cast, and we will have to wait until Sunday evening to reap any potential benefits.
Frédéric Antonetti can count on the majority of his squad, and it will only be tomorrow during the day that a decision will be made regarding Loïc Rémy’s participation in the match. The Nice striker, returning from injury, must undergo a final test this morning to see if his ankle sprain is nothing more than a bad memory. Mahamane Traoré will be unavailable due to a thigh injury. This bodes well for the insular coach, who can field a starting eleven according to his desires and needs, with the added benefit of the last Coupe de la Ligue match against Créteil giving Antonetti a chance to rotate his squad and review his roster.
As for Nantes, one must go back to October 18th to see a victory by the Canaries at home against St Etienne (1-0). Since then, Élie Baup’s men have found themselves overwhelmed at Lorient (3-0) and Lille (2-0) and managed only two draws at home against Marseille and Toulouse (1-1). As a result, they sit in 16th place with 12 points, just two points away from the first relegation spot, Saint-Etienne. Although the goal for the Nantes team is not to claim three points at Le Ray, a draw would be welcomed, especially as their direct competitors in the standings are also playing away.
Therefore, it is a match to be taken very seriously for the Eaglets, who, after taking a significant flight, must now learn to live up to their new position!
