Our prediction for this Ligue 1 match:
Lorient and Nice take on each other at Stade du Moustoir in a highly-anticipated Ligue 1 game. Les Merlus have been performing above expectations this season, with the team sitting in the Champions League berth ahead of Matchday 13, but Sunday’s game will be anything but a walk in the park for the home side. Midfielder Quentin Boisgard is widely expected to return to the starting XI after getting his name on the scoresheet in a 2-2 draw with Troyes, while all Samuel Loric, Terem Moffi, Laurent Abergel, and Gedeon Kalulu should miss out through injuries.
Les Aiglons, on the other hand, head into Sunday’s clash following back-to-back draws with Auxerre and Nantes. Nice are undefeated in the previous three league fixtures, and, taking everything into account, they are capable of holding Lorient to a draw at Stade du Moustoir. Summer signing Ross Barkley is pushing for a start, while Jordan Lotomba is a major doubt after limping off with injury in the 1-1 draw with Nantes.
Highlighted Player (Nicolas Pépé):
Born in France to parents of Ivorian descent, Nicolas Pepe became a full Ivory Coast international in 2016. In a symbolic twist of events, Pepe was handed his Ivory Coast debut in a goalless draw against his birth nation France days after receiving his first-ever call-up.
Pepe began his career in the lower leagues in Poitiers in 2012, before moving to Angers a year later. Having proven his qualities in the second-string side, Pepe was instated in Angers’ first team in 2013. Four years later – which included a season-long loan spell at Orleans – Nicolas Pepe was transferred to Lille. Les Dogues beat several sides to the signature of this pacey winger who is no stranger to scoring goals. Quick with his feet, Pepe can be deployed on the right wing and as a centre-forward.
The Ivory Coast international is unpredictable in his movement and not easy to keep an eye on, especially because of his powerful left foot.
Highlighted Team (Nice):
OGC Nice are a football club that participate in French Ligue 1. Les Aiglons welcome their opponents at Allianz Riviera and the club was founded on 9 July, 1904 by Marquis Massengy d’ Auzac.
OGC Nice won their first Ligue 1 trophy back in 1951 and eight years later they clinched their fourth and last domestic title. Speaking of the French Cup, les Aiglons won their third Coupe de France title in 1997. Allianz Riviera has been the home ground of the club since September, 2013 and it has to be noted that the construction of the venue cost €250 million. OGC Nice play their home games in red and black shirts and black shorts, while the colour of their away kits is white.
The Ligue 1 team booked their place in the Europa League group stages for the 2016/2017 season for the first time in the club’s history and they were drawn alongside Schalke 04, Salzburg and Krasnodar in Group I. However, they were beaten by Schalke in their Europa League opener in front of home fans.