Nice believe that the partial closure of the stand at the Allianz Riviera is down to the pyrotechnic devices used by fans during their match against OM on the 21st of October. The club go on to condemn the use of firecrackers in their statement, saying “firecrackers which add nothing to the atmosphere of the match and harm the Club and the vast majority of supporters.”

The INEOS-owned club have also argued that their fans have been “well-behaved”, both at home and during away games in recent months and are keen to ensure that their fans are not “stigmatized” for the behaviours of a few. Nice’s next home match is against Rennes on the 5th November. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

The France international has been involved in a mixture of team and individual training as he looks to shake off the niggle. It is not unthinkable therefore that Thuram will start from the bench. He also missed last weekend’s victory over Olympique de Marseille through suspension with Hicham Boudaoui coming into the side to replace him. 

Jordan Lotomba, who started that match against OM, withdrew with a muscular injury, and he is now set for a spell on the sidelines, alongside Sofiane Diop, who is once again unavailable for Friday night’s Ligue 1 encounter. Youcef Atal, Nice’s other option at right-back is suspended (both by the club and by the LFP) meaning that Pablo Rosario is set to fill in. 

Nice likely lineup v Clermont Foot

Marcin Bulka; Melvin Bard, Dante, Jean-Clair Todibo, Pablo Rosario; Hicham Boudaoui, Youssouf Ndayishimiye, Morgan Sanson; Jérémie Boga, Terem Moffi, Gaëtan Laborde. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The Algerian international has received the suspension after sharing a social media post from a Palestinian preacher, who called for God to “send the Jewish people a dark day.” The post was quickly deleted by the Nice defender, and he took to social media the following day. 

However, enquiries were launched by the LFP, as well as the Nice Public Prosecutor, whose preliminary investigation is still ongoing. The authority is investigating Atal for “condoning terrorism.” Nice mayor Christian Estrosi was also critical of the player, calling for him to “denounce Hamas terrorists.” 

The anti-semitic post was shared whilst Atal was away on international duty. Upon his return to Nice, he was suspended until further notice by the club. He was therefore absent against Olympique de Marseille, and in the wake of that match, the LFP announced on Wednesday that Atal will be banned for the next seven Ligue 1 matches. 

According to L’Équipe, Nice will not contest the suspension, which will see him ruled out until the end of the year. The club’s own investigation is ongoing. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Atal shared a video from Palestinian preacher Mahmoud al-Hasanat, who asked God to “send Jewish people a dark day,” whilst on international duty with Algeria earlier this month. He immediately deleted the post and proceeded to make a public apology on his social media platforms the next day. 

However, the LFP, as well as the Nice Public Prosecutor opened investigations into the incident. The former investigation has now come to an end. In a communiqué, the LFP announced that Atal has received a seven-game suspension, which will take effect immediately. At the very earliest, Atal will feature for Les Aiglons again on 20th December when RC Lens visit the Allianz Riviera. 

However, Atal’s future at Nice is in doubt. Upon his return from international duty, Atal was suspended by the club until further notice. There is therefore no guarantee that Atal will play for the club again. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Dehon was still at the club, despite not being part of Farioli’s staff. The Italian manager, who began his career as a goalkeeping coach, brought in Jarkko Tuomisto when he arrived at the club this summer. However, despite this, Dehon was still under contract with Les Aiglons. This contract has now been officially terminated. Dehon worked with goalkeepers such as Walter Benitez, Kasper Schmeichel and Marcin Bulka, and the coach was partially responsible for the arrival of the latter. The Polish goalkeeper has enjoyed a strong start to the season. 

According to L’Équipe, Dehon was approached by the FFF upon Thierry Henry’s arrival as France U21 manager, and he is now free to take that role, should an agreement be reached between all parties.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Atal shared a video from Palestinian preacher Mahmoud al-Hasanat, who asked God to “send Jewish people a dark day,” whilst on international duty earlier this month. He immediately deleted the post and proceeded to make a public apology the next day. 

However, the LFP’s ethics and disciplinary council launched an investigation into the post. Upon his return from international duty, Atal was suspended by Nice, and according to L’Équipe, he now also looks set to be suspended by the league. The league’s verdict will be delivered on Wednesday evening and it is expected that Atal, on top of his suspension from the club, will also be suspended by the LFP. Atal is also under investigation by the Nice Public Prosecutor for “condoning terrorism.”

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Under the Italian’s tutelage, Nice have only conceded four goals. This record cannot be beaten by any team in Ligue 1 or the other 4 major European top flights. For context, Nice’s closest competitors for this accolade in each of the top 5 leagues are: 

• Inter (5 conceded)
• Eintracht Frankfurt (6 conceded)
• Real Madrid (7 conceded)
• Manchester City (7 conceded)

In addition to conceding the fewest goals in Europe’s major divisions, Les Aiglons have also kept the most clean sheets. Farioli’s men have kept 6 clean sheets at the time of writing. Their latest clean sheet came in a 1-0 victory against Marseille. The Côte d’Azur side’s defensive unit is largely to thank for this with former PSG keeper Marcin Bulka also having an incredible start to the season – the Polish stopper recently won the UNFP Player of the Month for September. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

Nice remain the only unbeaten team in the league following Saturday’s victory in the Mediterranean derby. Les Aiglons’ defence is also the best in Ligue 1, and Europe. They have kept a clean sheet in their last four matches at home, and with six clean sheets overall in the league this season, they are unmatched in this statistic across Europe’s top five leagues. 

However, Farioli isn’t getting carried away. “I am happy with the result and the very solid performance,” said the Italian manager, who remains unbeaten since joining the club. 

In a press conference, attended by Get French Football News, he added, “We have to look at the standings as little as possible, but the start of the season has been very positive; we couldn’t have asked for better. Our objective is to accumulate the points in the good moments for the moments that will be more difficult in the season.”

AS Monaco face FC Metz at the Stade Louis II, and the former will have to win if they want to retake their position at the summit of Ligue 1. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Evann Guessand got a late winner against Olympique de Marseille to take OGC Nice top of Ligue (1-0). Leonardo Balerdi’s red card proved the turning point in what was a defensive and timid affair at the Allianz Riviera. 

Defences were on top in a tepid first half, starved of any clear-cut opportunities. Ismaïla Sarr had the ball in the back of the net in the 25th minute, but his strike was rightly ruled out for offside. Nice had kept clean sheets in their last three matches at the Allianz Riviera, and based on the first half, they looked like making it four in a row. 

Whilst there wasn’t a glut of chances in the second half, the game did open up. Amine Harit went close with a header that was well saved by Marcin Bulka. The Polish goalkeeper couldn’t do anything about Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s dink in the second half, but luckily for Bulka, the post came to the rescue.  

The turning point came in the 78th minute. Leonardo Balerdi had already been given a yellow card for dissent and he then gave away a foul on the edge of his own box, earning a second yellow and a red. Jérémie Boga stepped up to take the free-kick and found the head of Evann Guessand, who made no mistake with the finish. 

Iliman Ndiaye had a golden chance to salvage a point late on, but Nice held on to take the three points, which at least temporarily lifts them to the top of the Ligue 1 standings.

Nice player ratings

Marcin Bulka – 6

Melvin Bard – 6

Dante – 6

Jean-Clair Todibo – 7

Jordan Lotomba – 5 

Hicham Boudaoui – 4

Youssouf Ndayishimiye – 5

Morgan Sanson – 5

Jérémie Boga – 5

Terem Moffi – 4 – The Nigerian striker hasn’t scored since he netted a brace against PSG. He was a peripheral figure in this game, and couldn’t bring others around him into play. He was then replaced by Evann Guessand, who had an almost immediate impact. 

Gaëtan Laborde – 5

Marseille player ratings

Pau Lopez – 5

Ronan Lodi – 5

Leonardo Balerdi – 4 – The Argentinian had looked solid in the first half and was a reassuring figure in Marseille’s defence. He was quite the opposite in the second half. Balerdi lost his composure, earning a first yellow for dissent and the second for a clumsy challenge on the edge of his box. With Nice scoring from the resulting penalty, it’s fair to say that Balerdi had a significant impact on the result, but not a positive one as far as his team are concerned.  

Chancel Mbemba – 6

Jonathan Clauss – 6

Azzedine Ounahi – 5

Amine Harit – 6

Valentin Rongier – 6

Ismaïla Sarr – 4

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 3 – not for the first time this season, Aubameyang failed to influence proceedings, and when called upon to add the finishing touch, failed to do so. 

Iliman Ndiaye – 4

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Whilst on international duty with Algeria, Atal shared an anti-semitic video on social media, which called for God to send “Jewish people a dark day.” The post was quickly deleted and the player publicly apologised the following day. However, there are further repercussions. The Mayor of Nice intervened calling on Atal to “denounce Hamas terrorists.” 

It was then reported that the LFP would investigate the incident before the Nice Public Prosecutor announced that they would also be launching an enquiry. Upon Atal’s return to Nice, he held a meeting with the club, and it was announced by Le Gym that Atal would be suspended until further notice. 

“Taking into account the nature and the seriousness of the post shared, the club has taken the decision to immediately take its first disciplinary sanctions before those that may be taken by the sporting and judiciary authorities […] the club has decided to suspend Youcef Atal until further notice,” read Nice’s statement on Wednesday. Farioli and Dante have now responded to Atal’s suspension.

“Youcef knows he’s made a mistake. I’ve known him for five years and I have never seen him so sad and so devastated. I see how he is with my children and his relationships with those around him. I’m convinced he wants peace around the world. At the minute, he is really sad, disappointed and devastated by this story,” Dante told Gym Tonic. 

“The club was very clear in the press release,” began Farioli, in a press conference attended by Get French Football News. “If I can add something as a human being and as the father of a family, what is happening is a humanitarian catastrophe. We in sport have a platform and we need to send a message of peace in the face of this humanitarian catastrophe,” added the Italian ahead of Saturday’s match against Marseille. 

“Youcef is a player that we all like and an important player. A sportsperson has rights but also obligations, and the decision communicated by the club is very clear on the subject of this suspension. It all goes beyond sport,” added Farioli. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle