On a positive momentum since the end of last week, OGC Nice travels to Lens full of confidence. However, Franck Haise will have to deal with injuries and the freshness of his players.
Two days of recovery, and OGC Nice is back in the fight in Ligue 1. While the scheduling of this match on the 6th day is debatable, the Nice team will have to adapt. “We will not have had a session specifically to prepare for Lens because we will only be on the field for 30 minutes today,” specified Franck Haise in a press conference this Friday. The Aiglons coach is focusing on recovery and a brief video analysis “on set-pieces to ensure that they (the players) stay fresh.”
It can be said that Lens seems to have a certain advantage in terms of preparation for the encounter. However, one could also argue that since their return to the top flight, Lens has won only once against the red and blacks (6 defeats – 1 draw). A record in favor of the Azuréens that they will try to maintain this Saturday at 5 pm.
The OGC Nice infirmary remains full
Apart from the fatigue that needs to be managed, the Gym’s squad is not really getting thicker. While the chances of seeing Jérémie Boga on the bench are increasing, other players are very uncertain. This is the case for Melvin Bard, whose injury’s nature is unknown. The full-back is heading towards being unavailable, similar to Tanguy Ndombele, who seems to have difficulty keeping up.
These two players add to the long-term absentees Gaëtan Laborde, Terem Moffi, and Morgan Sanson. One last uncertainty concerns Mohamed-Ali Cho, who got a foot injury against Saint-Etienne. That makes six players whose return is more than compromised.
RC Lens is also not spared from injuries. Several key players of the team, like Kévin Danso and Jimmy Cabot, are already out.
Probable line-ups:
RC Lens: Brice Samba (G) (C) – Ruben Aguilar – Jonathan Gradit – Abdukodir Khusanov – Facundo Medina – Johanner Chavez – Adrien Thomasson – Andy Diouf – David Pereira da Costa – Wesley Said – Florian Sotoca.
OGCN: Marcin Bulka (G) – Jonathan Clauss – Youssouf Ndayishimiye – Moise Bombito – Dante (C) – Antoine Mendy – Tom Louchet – Pablo Rosario – Evann Guessand – Badredine Bouanani – Youssoupha Moukoko.
