On behalf of the 6th day of Ligue 1, Nîmes Olympique (14th, 5 pts) travels this Sunday (1 p.m.) to the Mosson stadium to face Montpellier (3rd, 10 pts). The derby is necessarily a separate match and the Crocos are determined to win it after two consecutive defeats at La Paillade.
“The most important game of the year”, “it’s worth more than three points”, “of course we have something to lose”, these are the statements we hear every year as the derby approaches. And even if tomorrow afternoon’s will take place under very special conditions, we are entitled to the same formulations. A Montpellier-Nîmes behind closed doors inevitably loses its flavor but regional supremacy and the pride of beating one’s neighbor still remain in play. Even if no supporter will be present because of the health context.
“We’ve been going for a walk for two years. This year we’ve prepared it differently”, dropped Jérôme Arpinon at a press conference. A Nîmes coach raised in the derby, first supporter of his team and ideally placed to make his players understand the significance of this match. “When we arrived in Ligue 1 we were talking about maintaining it even if it means losing in Montpellier. Now this is no longer the case”, assures the coach bubbling on his chair at a pre-match press conference and ready to do battle.
Montpellier at home: 13 wins out of the last 17 matches
With such a motivated coach, one can imagine that it is the same for the players. This is where Captain Anthony Briançon also comes into play: “We forgot a few values in the first half against Lens. It was important this week to rediscover that warrior state of mind that characterizes us.” The Crocs do not want to disappoint their audience and show fighting spirit. An essential value that they had lacked in the first derby after the comeback, beaten 3-0.
Closer last season (1-0 defeat), the Nîmes hope to tip the scales this year and win in the land of Pailladine, which has not happened for 43 years. But beyond putting commitment and winning the duels, they are aware that technically the challenge is also met. Opposite it is the third in the championship after five days which presents itself, co-best attack with Rennes. Already 12 goals scored on 33 shots attempted for the most enterprising attack of the elite. Led by the duo Andy Delort-Gaëtan Laborde, authors of three and two goals respectively since the start of the season.
An ease in obtaining opportunities illustrated by a repositioning as playmaker of Téji Savanier. The former Nîmes conductor (2015-2019) plays a more offensive score but just as right on the other side of the Vidourle. Hence his three goals scored and his decisive pass delivered in five starts. With these assets, Montpellier is clearly the favorite, all the more so as at home the men of Michel Der Zakarian are intractable: 13 wins in the last 17 matches. Only PSG are doing so well in Ligue 1. The Héraultais are unbeaten this season at home with three consecutive wins against Nice (3-1), Lyon (2-1) and Angers (4-1).
Which incumbent recruits?
“In a match anything can happen”, warns the coach of the NO who must have spotted flaws in his opponent after the draw conceded in Dijon (2-2). The latter is especially focused on his team after the performance against the Sang et Or, one of the least successful of the season where we still retain the reaction at the end of the match which led to the equalizer of Zinedine Ferhat, the main weapon of the Reds today. If the Algerian will be present, difficult to know with whom he will start and in what device.
To densify the environment, Arpinon should turn to 4-3-3 and certainly associate it in attack with Renaud Ripart and Nolan Roux. Among the last two recruits to arrive, Karim Aribi and Niclas Eliasson, only the Swede was selected in a group of 21 players. On the other hand, after 25 interesting first minutes against Lens, Patrick Burner should celebrate his first tenure as a right-back. Recovered from his calf, Lucas Deaux will probably be aligned in the middle alongside Andrés Cubas whose role in recovery will be preponderant.
Only Haris Duljevic (covid), Sidy Sarr (adductor) and Sofiane Alakouch are missing on the Nîmes side. And no one on the Montpellier side where the indefatigable 43-year-old captain Vitorino Hilton will of course be present in the indefatigable five-way defense. Not enough to scare Jérôme Arpinon who over-motivated his men in order to proudly defend the colors of Nîmes: “When you don’t have any pride you’re going to play flower with a gun over there. But if you have a little face you go in a different way.” It remains to be seen whether the words will turn into action.
Corentin Corger
The selected group: Reynet, Dias – Burner, Paquiez, Briançon, Landre, Martinez, Meling, Miguel – Fomba, Cubas, Deaux, Ahlinvi – Ferhat, Ripart, Benrahou, Roux, Denkey, Eliasson, Chadli, Koné.
The probable eleven: Reynet – Burner, Briançon (cap.), Landre, Meling – Fomba, Cubas, Deaux – Ripart, Ferhat, Roux.
–
