Preview: Nice eyeing Europe, Reims hoping to tie-up safety

Flying high after their famous win at the Parc des Princes last weekend, OGC Nice kick-off what will be another tense weekend of action as the battle to the UEFA Champions League and European spots heats up with just three Match days left of the season. They face a Reims outfit at the Allianz Riviera that are hoping to seal mathematical safety as they travel to the Côte d'Azur during Friday night's action.

Les Aiglons are full of confidence following their big win over PSG thanks to a brace from former Marseille man Morgan Sanson and a stunning third from Youssouf Ndayishimiye to seal the end of Les Parisiens' invincible streak in Ligue 1 McDonald's this season. Le Gym are now just three points behind Riviera rivals Monaco - with only four points separating Marseille in second, all the way down to Strasbourg in seventh place.

"When you beat PSG like that, at home, in that season, it's a huge achievement," said Nice boss Franck Haise following his 3-1 win over the Champions last Friday evening. "The hardest part is reproducing a performance like that."

WATCH: Nice surprise PSG at the Parc

Nice flying after PSG win, Reims hoping to tie-up safety

After winning their last two games, Reims drew against bottom side Montpellier at Stade de la Mosson. Samba Diawara's men have a cushion of five points to 16th-placed Le Havre and  six point lead over Saint-Étienne, meaning they could mathematically tie up safety with just a draw against Nice on Friday evening.

Les Rémois will have to travel to the South with a doubt for Junya Ito, who had to come off against Montpelier with an ankle injury. When asked about the injury, the Reims coach said in his press conference that the player had "a large bruise, but nothing too serious."

"It's a bruise that will still require a few days' rest. Today (Wednesday), he was feeling much better. At the beginning of the week, he was limping. Now, he can walk normally and has been out on the pitch for a bit. It may be too soon for him to play, even though there could be a dramatic improvement between now and Friday, but it's unlikely to be enough time."

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