Date: Sunday, 29 January 2017
Kick off at 14:00 UK / 15:00 CET
Venue: Allianz Riviera, Nice.
Nice – Guingamp Preview
Nice were outplayed last round by Nantes. Besides not being able to create much chances they’ve also suffered a few blows.
Playmaker Bruls was substituted before half time after displaying a whatever will be will be attitude. Furthermore Nice lost winger Bautheac, an important element in Nice’s creative phase.
Losing Bautheac in these times (offensive midfielders / wingers Eysseric and Pied are also injured) will prove to be decisive for Nice’s results.
Knowing coach Puel, Nice won’t change tactics and will continue to concentrate on building actions like they’ve always did. Only that now they will be stopping way before opponents’ penalty box, or will have to bring in extra weapons, meaning getting the defensive midfielders upfront.
Experienced striker Cvitanich can’t possibly be a danger on his own. His usual partners in crime are either out or in depressions (Bruls has morale problems after being substituted in min 30 last round).
Many expected Guingamp to win last round but not even their die hard fans predicted such a scoreline (5-1 against Sochaux).
Only superlatives should be used to describe Guingamp’s display last round. They’ve shown so much maturity like they are active in Ligue1 for 10 seasons already and aren’t newly promoted.
Players find each other with eyes closed and they successfully foresee the movements that are to be made by teammates.
Striker Yatabare is the most important player in the team, but the way Guingamp looked last round, they could successfully cope with his absence (if ever the case).
They moved the ball around so fast in the midfield that fans’ heads were moving from left to right and the other way around just like in cartoons. They were dangerous both in normal building play but also on counters. Being familiar and comfortable with counter tactics will help Guingamp getting something from a Nice team that will have offensive problems and most probably will use the defensive midfielders for the offensive phase.
Nice have to many problems at the moment to win against Guingamp who are on a roll. Guests +0.5 at 1.88 deserves high stakes.
