Football Previews
Match info:
Nice vs Toulouse
Competition – France Ligue 1
Stadium – Allianz Riviera
Date: 9th August 2014
Kick-off time – 20:00 GMT+1
Nice coach Claude Puel has warned his side to be wary of the threat of Toulouse strike duo Martin Braithwaite and Wissam Ben Yedder in their Ligue 1 season opener on Saturday.
Twenty-three-year-old French forward Ben Yedder netted four times for his club during their busy pre-season and Puel believes he – alongside Denmark international Braithwaite – will cause the Eaglets problems in the match at the Allianz Riviera.
He told his club’s official website, ogcnice.com: “Ben Yedder is a very good player.
“He makes some interesting moves in small spaces and is very skilful. Braithwaite provides many solutions to his team. The two are very complementary.”
Last season Nice recorded just one win from their last nine matches to finish two points above the relegation zone and Puel is hoping his side can turn things around with a fresh start this weekend against tough opponents.
“It is very dangerous and it’s a good start for us,” he added, stressing that Toulouse will put a “powerful team out”.
He said: “Toulouse will stick to the same gameplay as their squad has hardly changed. This is a complete team.”
Alain Casanova’s side also ended the season with just one win from their last nine games, but they were seven points better off than Saturday’s opponents in ninth and that three-pointer came on the final day of the season as they recorded a 3-1 victory over relegated Valenciennes.
Casanova believes Nice will be looking to bounce back from their pre-season defeats as the league season gets underway, saying on his club’s official website, tfc.info: “The teams are in a state of action and reaction must be taken into account.
“Nice have seen some departures in their workforce, (and have struggled with) injuries recently. But I do not expect to face a weakened team (at the Allianz) Riviera or one that is in trouble.”
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | G | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paris Saint-Germain | 16 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 44 | 14 | +30 | 40 |
| 2 | Marseille | 15 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 32 | 18 | +14 | 30 |
| 3 | Monaco | 16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 26 | 16 | +10 | 30 |
| 4 | LOSC Lille Métropole | 15 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 25 | 15 | +10 | 27 |
| 5 | Lyon | 15 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 27 | 20 | +7 | 25 |
| 6 | OGC Nice | 15 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 28 | 19 | +9 | 24 |
| 7 | Lens | 15 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 19 | 14 | +5 | 24 |
| 8 | Auxerre | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 23 | 23 | +0 | 21 |
| 9 | Toulouse | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 17 | +0 | 21 |
| 10 | Stade de Reims | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 18 | +2 | 20 |
| 11 | Brest | 15 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 24 | 27 | -3 | 19 |
| 12 | Stade Rennais FC | 15 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 20 | 20 | +0 | 17 |
| 13 | Strasbourg | 15 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 25 | 27 | -2 | 17 |
| 14 | Nantes | 15 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 17 | 24 | -7 | 14 |
| 15 | Angers | 15 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 26 | -12 | 13 |
| 16 | Saint-Etienne | 15 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 12 | 34 | -22 | 13 |
| 17 | Le Havre | 15 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 29 | -18 | 12 |
| 18 | Montpellier Hérault SC | 15 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 15 | 38 | -23 | 9 |
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