Lyon vs Nice preview

May 18, 2017
By: Nemanja Lazarevic

The final game of the season at Parc OL will make no difference to the final standings, but at least it gives fourth-placed Lyon a chance to prove they deserve a higher league position.

Nice, on the other hand, hope to recover from back to back defeats and finish a very successful season on a high.

Lyon may boast one of the most expensive squads in French Ligue 1, but it is clear that les Gones did not play to their potential this term.

Just Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso are expected to generate around €100 million when they are sold in the summer, while the likes of Mammana, Diakhaby, Tousart, Ghezzal, Fekir and Cornet are also hot commodities.

Meanwhile, Lyon will have to settle for a fourth-placed finish and a Europa League qualification, as they currently trail third-placed Nice 11 points.

Les Gones failed to make it to the Europa League final despite winning the return leg against Ajax as 4-1 loss in the first leg proved crucial.

Bruno Genesio’s side did win their last three matches in all competitions, scoring three goals in each of those encounters, and they are 1.70 (7/10) to defeat Nice as well.

The head coach has no fresh selection worries at the moment, with only Jeremy Morel unlikely to feature due to injury.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Lopes – Rafael, N’Koulou, Diakhaby, Rybus – Tousart, Tolisso – Cornet, Fekir, Depay – Lacazette.

Not too many people believed that Lucien Favre would be able to repeat Claude Puel’s result at Allianz Arena, let alone better it, but the Swiss coach once again proved the doubters wrong.

Under his command, Nice managed to mount a serious title challenge, and even if they failed to keep up with Monaco and PSG in the end, Champions League qualification will serve as quite a consolation prize.

Once a third-place finish was secured, les Aiglons took their foot off the throttle, which resulted in back to back losses to Marseille and Angers.

It remains to be seen whether they can fare any better when facing Lyon, but it would appear as though most players are already thinking about summer holidays.

Lucien Favre has got a long list of unavailable players ahead of the trip to Parc OL, although Dalbert Henrique returns from suspension.

Dante is banned, while Le Bihan, Obbadi, Eysseric, Cyprien, Le Marchand and Perreira are all in the treatment room.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Cardnale – Souquet, Baysse, Sarr, Henrique – Koziello, Seri – Donis, Belhanda, Marcel – Balotelli.

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