Philippe Clement, Alexander Nübel or Vanderson explained that this match was like the others. That there were only three points at stake and that there were still five days left until the end of the season after this one. Christophe Galtier, he did not want to plan on the comet and evoke the podium.

This week, Monegasques and Nice, armed with their elements of language, veiled the issue as best they could. But no one is fooled. This Monaco – Nice sent the powder. In the race for Europe, for the podium and for the Champions League, ASM and Le Gym can lose big. In this frenzied sprint, the slightest false note will be expensive. Especially against a direct competitor.

On this day under high tension, since Rennes (3rd) moves to Strasbourg (5th) at 9 p.m., scoring the competition is possible. In each of the locker rooms, everyone thinks about it, because a derby is not only a matter of supporters.

Opposite dynamics

Monaco approaches this match in the costume of favorite. On the strength of their four straight victories in L1, which they had not accomplished for a year, Ben Yedder’s partners have been transfigured for a month.

Eliminated from the Europa League in mid-March, they only have one game a week left to negotiate. They can work tactically under the orders of a Philippe Clément recruited in January. Workouts are no longer just recovery sessions and that changes everything. The Belgian’s precepts are infusing and the group is gaining confidence. To measure the shape of this flourishing ASM, the Tchouameni-Fofana pair is the ideal barometer. These two set the hens and the tempo. They press, recover and crush the midfield again.

On the side of the Aiglons, the victory on the wire against Lorient (2-1) did not make forget the worries. Sunday, the offensive animation was dull. Christophe Galtier is not blind and the coach deplores this nasty habit, aware that Delort will not save the country in every game. He waits for Gouiri to wake up, stuck on the hard shoulder for too long. The international Espoirs has not been decisive, by a but or a pass, since March 1. An eternity for a boy with golden feet. But the former Lyonnais is not the only one to disappoint.

Justin Kluivert and Calvin Stengs must offload their inconstancy. It will be necessary to push back the ASM to four points without Dante (suspended). Deprived of their pack leader, the people of Nice are shivering. Yet they have the resources to stop coughing. If the Coupe de France final is on their minds, betting on a match would be a big risk. Beating Nantes would send Nice into the Europa League. Ligue 1 can propel him into the Champions League. A cake that should whet the appetite.

The phrase

“It’s a special match on a personal level against my training club that I’m happy to face. I have only very good memories of that time, I kept a lot of friends there. were the best years of my young life, we had fun, I went to school… I don’t regret my departure to Nice. Some were surprised, but I wanted playing time and progress. The Gym allowed me to do that.”

From Khephren Thuram, Gym midfielder.