Nicevs.Auxerre

Les Aiglons will be hoping to get back on track after their loss last time out, while AJA are in their best form so far this calendar year.

Match preview

Franck Haise's Nice were on a four-game winning streak prior to their defeat against Lyon on March 9, but will now be going into Friday's match with just a two-point cushion in the top flight's final automatic Champions League qualification spot.

Their 2-0 loss left them third in the table with 46 points, only two more than fourth-placed Monaco and fifth-placed Lille, both of whom gained ground on Les Aiglons last weekend.

However, that was the hosts' first home league defeat of the season and their first in all competitions since November, so they will be confident of putting things right and taking maximum points against a mid-table team this time around.

On the other hand, Haise's side were beaten 2-1 by Auxerre in the reverse fixture back in August, and their opponents have improved in recent weeks.

Regardless, victory on Friday could see Nice leapfrog Marseille and climb into second place depending on goal difference, though they would still be some way behind league leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

Meanwhile, Christoph Pelissier's Auxerre went on a disastrous 11-game winless run between the start of December and mid-February, though they have now won two of their last three and the boss will be hoping that his team have turned a corner.

Most recently, AJA won 2-0 on the road to Reims thanks to goals from Theo Bair and Bournemouth loanee Hamed Traore, and the manager will be pleased to see his defence keep their second clean sheet in three matches.

That triumph took Pelissier's side above Rennes and into 11th place, where they now have 31 points to their name, though they remain 11 points from Lyon in the European spots.

Away from Stade de l'Abbe-Deschamps, this week's visitors have recorded just one win since early November, though they may draw confidence from the fact that they have avoided defeat in their last two games on the road, beating Reims and drawing 2-2 with Brest on February 14.

Another three points on Friday could take Auxerre level on points with 10th-placed Toulouse, and may move them to within eight points of qualifying for European football next season with eight fixtures to play.

Nice Ligue 1 form:

D

W

W

W

W

L

Nice form (all competitions):

L

W

W

W

W

L

Auxerre Ligue 1 form:

L

D

D

W

L

W

Team News

Nice's Morgan Sanson is expected to make a return from an ankle injury this week, but the midfielder is unlikely to start and will instead start on the bench as he builds fitness.

In his absence, Hicham Boudaoui and Baptiste Santamaria should line up in the middle of the park, flanked by wing-backs Jonathan Clauss and Melvin Bard.

Les Aiglons also continue to be without defender Mattia Viti and forward Terem Moffi, who has been dealing with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

As for Auxerre, midfielders Nathan Buayi-Kiala and Lasso Coulibaly remain out with cruciate ligament injuries of their own, though the former could make a comeback later this month.

Elsewhere, right-back Ki-Jana Hoever could miss out after being taken off with an injury late on against Reims, and Paul Joly would take his place if he is unavailable.

Nice possible starting lineup:

Bulka; Bombito, Ndayishimiye, Dante; Clauss, Boudaoui, Santamaria, Bard; Guessand, Cho; Laborde

Auxerre possible starting lineup:

Leon; Joly, Osho, Jubal, Akpa, Mensah; Perrin, Danois, Owusu, Traore; Bair

We say: Nice 2-1 Auxerre

Nice are pushing for a place in the Champions League next season and are in strong form despite their loss last time out.

Written by

Anthony Nolan

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