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Ligue 1 Saturday Preview: Derby de la Côte d’Azur and More!
OGC Nice vs. AS Monaco
This edition of the Derby de la Côte d’Azur at Stade Louis II feels more important than usual, with Nice and Monaco, along with four other clubs, battling for the automatic UEFA Champions League spots. Six points separate second-place Olympique de Marseille from seventh-place RC Strasbourg, so every victory matters.
Monaco are in third place, with Nice right behind them in fourth with both sides on 47 points. With the tight race, both teams have been in strong form, putting pressure on each other and other clubs.
Adi Hütter and his team have lost just once in their last five matches while Franck Haise and his squad are on a similar run with only one loss in their past five games.
Hütter spoke with the media and noted the importance of securing all three points since these head-to-head matchups will play a significant role in determining who will secure an automatic spot in the Champions League next season.
“It’s only one match, but it’s very important! It’s the Côte d’Azur Derby, so it’s an event for everyone: the Club, the supporters, and ourselves. However, it’s not the last match of the season, even though this game will kick off the final stretch with eight matches.”
“When you look at the standings, Saturday’s match is obviously all the more exciting since we have the same number of points and the same goal difference! So it’s a match that holds a lot of interest for both teams, and we’re ready for it.”
Stade de Reims vs. Marseille
This matchup will see two teams desperate for the three points. Marseille have lost three out of their last four matches and only hold a two-point lead over Monaco and Nice, so OM needs a win or they could slide down in the tight race for the Champions League spots.
While Marseille need the three points to keep themselves in second place, Reims require them to avoid dropping into the relegation spots. Samba Diawara and his team are two points above Le Havre, who are in the playoff relegation spot. Reims are desperate for a win as their last Ligue 1 McDonald’s victory came last November against Le Havre.
Paris Saint-Germain vs. AS Saint-Étienne
PSG will be looking to extend their unbeaten run in Ligue 1 McDonald’s when they travel to Stade Geoffroy-Guichard to face Saint-Étienne.
Now that the FIFA break is over, the Parisians will have a busy schedule. Luis Enrique and his team have a Coup de France semifinal match, a league match against Angers SCO, and the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal tie against Aston Villa. They’ll look to start on a positive note against Les Verts.
Saint-Étienne cannot afford a loss as they’re currently in the direct relegation zone. Eirik Horneland and his team have secured two draws in their last three matches and trail Reims by three points to be in the safe zone, so the squad needs to start securing wins if they want to remain in France’s top flight.
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