Three months after the last appearance of the Gym at the Allianz Riviera against Losc (1-3 on 14/05), the Aiglons return to their nest this Sunday. Despite the suspension of the first ring of the Popular South, following the controversial song on Emiliano Sala, the atmosphere should be beautiful. The club confirmed this week that it has already broken its subscriber record. More than 14,000 OGC Nice supporters took their card for the season, against 13,500 last season. And it’s not over. The Lucien Favre effect could be inflated by the arrival of a headliner by the end of the transfer window.
A revenge to take
In the meantime, it is the reception of Strasbourg that the Rouge et Noir must negotiate well for their season. Held in check in Toulouse last week (1-1), the Aiglons hope to score a first success against Alsatians beaten by Monaco at La Meinau (1-2). The Gym can also approach this meeting with a feeling of revenge after the lesson given here last season by these Strasbourg residents (3-0) who haven’t lost as many players as they might have feared. Djiku, Ajorque, Thomasson, Sels or Habib Diallo are still there, as is coach Julien Stephan, and this team will have to be reckoned with for the first third of the ranking.
Entry Schmeichel, Ramsey too fair to start
On the Nice side, we should see the first steps of Kasper Schmeichel in the red and black goal. The Dane is ready and Lucien Favre says he is very motivated and already very invested in the locker room. On the other hand, the Swiss coach wants to take his time with the other headliner of the Nice transfer window. Scorer after a minute of play in Toulouse, Aaron Ramsey should still start on the bench, he who has not started since June, with his Welsh selection. In front of the Gouiri – Delort – Stengs trio lined up in Toulouse did not convince Favre but for lack of anything better, he could repeat the experience, or launch a sharp Billal Brahimi and decisive passer in Haute-Garonne when he came off the bench.