The match on Sunday will undoubtedly be very challenging for the young eagles as they will face one of the future finalists of the French Cup after their victory against Lorient (4-0). Being in the relegation zone, one point behind Nancy and two points behind Sochaux, the team from Haute-Savoie will certainly do everything to secure the crucial three points.
Three matches to secure the future, that is surely what both teams are thinking as they face each other at the Annecy Sports Park, with the visitors aiming to cement a European qualification and the temporary hosts fighting to stay in Ligue 1. It’s expected to be a fierce battle as Claude Puel’s men face Pascal Dupraz’s squad, who would love to head to Paris for a final with a calmer mindset, having avoided relegation.
Points will be worth gold this Sunday in Annecy for Nice’s opponents in European qualification, with a complex match for the Lyonnais who are hosting PSG, and for Saint-Etienne who are traveling to Lorient, while Lille should be expected to overcome Reims at home. As for Evian, among their two chasers, Troyes and Brest, it’s the Trojans, semi-finalists of the French Cup, who will face the toughest challenge in Ajaccio, which can almost secure their stay with a victory, while Brest will play a six-pointer against the second non-relegated team, Sochaux. Meanwhile, Nancy, one point behind of Evian, will travel to Bordeaux, the other semi-finalist of the French Cup, which, unless a miracle occurs, has nothing left to hope for in the championship.
Nothing will be decided for either team in the event of defeats: Evian will then host Valenciennes before traveling to Bordeaux on the final day, while OGC Nice will host Lyon and play their last game on the island territory of Ajaccio. But, a victory for the eagles in Haute-Savoie would open the doors to an explosive encounter next week at the Ray Stadium with the reception of the Lyonnais, who will have just played PSG and could be within reach for Nice depending on the results.
But well, that’s another chapter of a story that must first continue this Sunday in Evian, where Claude Puel’s protégés must absolutely not sink!
