Preview: Nice vs. Lyon
Lyon travel to the Allianz Riviera to face Nice on the final day of the Ligue 1 season this Saturday.
The visitors know they need a miraculous set of scorelines in their favour to qualify for Europe this season.
With Rennes and Monaco in the hot seat to take the Europa Conference League spot in Ligue 1, Lyon look like they will have to settle for a second consecutive season with no European football.
For the improbable to happen, Lyon must win and hope the two sides above them lose, while also needing a nine-goal swing in their favour over Rennes.
With Rennes facing a lowly Brest outfit, and Laurent Blanc’s men travelling to Nice, big scorelines in their favour appear unlikely.
Results have been remarkably better under Blanc compared to Peter Bosz, but it was just too much of an insurmountable task to get Lyon into Europe, especially after Toulouse’s Coupe de France success took one of the league positions away.
Blanc has been unlucky though, as he has led Lyon to seven wins in their last nine games, picking up 37 points in the second half of the season, only second to Paris Saint-Germain’s 38.
OL have also shown fine form on the road, especially since the World Cup, as no side in Ligue 1 has lost fewer than their two in 11 games away from home in that time.
Nice head into this encounter with nothing to play for after their European dreams evaporated due to some poor form during March and April.
A defeat in the Europa Conference League quarter-finals to Basel hardly helped confidence either, as it effectively ended their season.
Didier Digard’s appointment as manager initially gave the side a huge lift, going unbeaten in his first 14 games in charge, so clubs on the hunt for a new manager may be taking note.
Form has tailed off though, especially here at the Riviera, winning just one of their last seven home games.
After a seven-game winless run though, Digard’s men have responded well, by winning three of their last five.
Nice Ligue 1 form:
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Lyon Ligue 1 form:
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We say: Nice 1-2 Lyon
Lyon have been one of the best sides in France during 2023, and even though they will fancy their chances to win here, it will surely not be enough to claim a spot in Europe.
Despite a run of five wins in their last seven home league games against Lyon, Nice face a very in-form outfit, determined to finish the season strongly.