Dante received the perfect birthday gift as he returned to the starting lineup for Nice on his 42nd birthday, under the guidance of coach Franck Haise in a match against Lyon. This marks only his fourth start this season, following appearances against Benfica, Nantes, and Roma. After suffering a knee injury in mid-September, the veteran defender had been rested in previous matches leading up to the international break, which included games against Paris FC, Fenerbahçe, and Monaco. Haise’s hopes for Dante’s return to training post-break were fulfilled, allowing the experienced player to be included in a three-man defense alongside Mendy and Oppong, with Diouf in goal.
With Moffi sidelined due to injury, Boga and Cho were set to start in the attacking positions. Nice, currently languishing at twelfth place but looking to improve, faced a surprising Lyon team sitting fourth, boasting the league’s best defense with only five goals conceded. A favorable outcome against such a European competitor could validate their performance from the recent Monaco derby and provide a much-needed boost to Nice’s season.
In this match setup, Clauss and Bard provided width as wing-backs, while Boudaoui and Vanhoutte partnered in midfield, both having received call-ups for their national teams during the break. Diop, who netted a brace in Monaco, played as a playmaker supporting the attacking duo of Cho and Boga, both of whom aim to penetrate Lyon’s solid defense. Notably, Ndombélé, who has been unable to play since February due to injury, was included in the squad and marked his return to the bench for the first time this season.
The confirmed lineup was as follows: Diouf – Mendy, Oppong, Dante (C) – Clauss, Boudaoui, Vanhoutte, Bard – Diop – Cho, Boga. With this strong formation, Nice aims to turn their season around and build on the momentum from their last thrilling derby match.