Return to the 3

With Auxerre’s draw against Nantes on Saturday, the Niçois have the opportunity against Le Havre to take a six-point lead over the playoff team in case of a win. A victory would also allow them to move ahead of their opponent in the standings.

The issue is that OGC Nice has not won at the Allianz Riviera in Ligue 1 since October 29. What’s worse, they have suffered two heavy 0-4 defeats at home (against Rennes and PSG). And they will be without Dante, who is struggling with a calf injury.

After using a 4-2-3-1 formation in the worrying loss to Strasbourg on Saturday, Claude Puel has decided to switch back to a 3-defense, with Bard on the left side of the defense alongside Mendy and Oppong. Ali Abdi takes on the wing-back position. Charles Vanhoutte returns to the starting lineup and partners with Hicham Boudaoui and Morgan Sanson in midfield.

Elye Wahi and Mohamed-Ali Cho will lead the Niçois attack.

Sofiane Diop and Isak Jansson, targeted for their poor behavior in Alsace, are on the bench.

Starting XI: Diouf – Mendy, Oppong, Bard – Clauss, Vanhoutte, Boudaoui, Sanson (c), Abdi – Cho, Wahi