Ligue 1: AS Saint Etienne vs. OGC Nice – Preview
AS Saint Etienne were aiming to achieve a respectable position in the league table, as they performed poorly last season and finished the season at 17th placed. It looks like ASSE are so far en route to achieve their objective successfully, as
they are currently placed seventh in the league table.
Les Verts have performed impressively throughout the season. They have an overall record of 24 played, 9 won, 8 drawn and 7 lost. Team manager, Christophe Galtier, will look to regain his side composure against a struggling http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/OGC-Nice-c40111 at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard,
after having two back-to-back defeats from http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-de-Marseille-c40127.
Galtier will be hoping that his side emerge victorious against OGC Nice who seems to be flirting with the danger zone. He will be looking to achieve better results in the coming weeks and improve their standings, as they are now seeking a spot in the UEFA
Europa League next season.
Galtier said, “We have faced two opponents really superior to us and this week, with their performances in the Champions League, they have confirmed that to me. Lyon and OM were very effective against opponents such http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/AS-Real-c38478 Madrid and Manchester United”.
“Nice need to take points for their own reassurance but regardless of their current situation, we must win at home to build a large gap between ourselves and the danger zone. We must cling to the good position”, he concluded.
ASSE will be looking to thrash the visitors in front of their home crowd and regain their form. The home side will be desperate to bag all three points, as their aim is to qualify for the Europa League.
On the other hand, OGC Nice were hoping to improve their last season 15thplaced finish, but they have staged poor performances so far. Consequently, they have been flirting with the danger zone, as they hold the 17th spot in the league
table.
Le Gym will be hoping that somehow they can manage to bag all three points against a tough ASSE side. The visitors have a poor record while playing on the road, as they have only managed to win one of their 12 matches. Team manager, Eric Roy, will be hoping
that his side claims better results in the coming weeks and improve their standings in the league table. The visitors have an overall record of 24 played, 6 won, 8 drawn, and 10 lost. They have acquired 26 points so far.
Team news
AS Saint Etienne
Loris Nery, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Yoann-Andreu-c37415 will watch the match from the stands due to injuries.
OGC Nice
Eric Roy will have to do without the services of Gregory Paisley, Abdou Traore and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-Hellebuyck-c10500 as all are sidelined due to injuries. However, Drissa Diakite will sit out his suspension on the bench.
Players to watch
ASSE playmaker, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Dimitri-Payet-c11276, will be the key player on the centre of the pitch. He has scored eight goals and become the leading goal scorer for his side. It will be hard to tie him down for the visitors’ defenders.
Nice’s shot-stopper, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-Ospina-c10573, will look to restrict the home side’s strikers to find the back of the net. He will be the key player for the visitors if they want to earn a point in this encounter.
Prediction
Les Aiglons current form suggest that it will be an easy 3 – 0 win for the home side.
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