During the month of April, Les Rouge et Noir will play six matches, half of which will be against teams in the top half of the Ligue 1 Uber Eats table. Here's a snapshot of the penultimate stretch of the 2021-2022 season, also looking at the schedule of the other European contenders.

A HEAVYWEIGHT CLASH TO START

Fourth-placed OGC Nice will host third-place Stade Rennais FC on Saturday, 2 April, at 17:00. Recently eliminated from the Europa Conference League by Leicester, Bruno Génésio's men beat FC Metz (6-1) in their last Ligue 1 Uber Eats outing. This victory allowed them to overtake Dante and his teammates, defeated in Marseille (2-1), on the table. The Bretons, on a run of five league wins, now have a two-point lead over Nice (52 points against 50). In short, this clash for Europe will see the league's best defence (Nice, 23 goals conceded) against its best attack (Rennes, 63 goals scored).

Lens, HEADING NORTH

On Sunday, 10 April, at 17:05, Le Gym will play away to RC Lens (8th). Les Sang et Or have 44 points (level with Monaco) in their second season back in French football's elite. As a reminder, the first match this season ended in a victory for Christophe Galtier's troops (2-1, goals by Mario Lemina and Justin Kluivert).

AGAINST LORIENT ET THE ALLIANZ

After Stade Rennais FC, OGC Nice will welcome another Breton team, FC Lorient (16th), on Sunday, 17 April, at 13:00. Christophe Pélissier's men have the least prolific attack in the league, with a total of just 24 goals scored. Les Merlus won the first leg by the narrowest (1-0).

Côte d'Azur derby in Monaco

The Aiglons will travel to neighbouring Monaco (7th) on Wednesday, 20 April, at 19:00. Note that six points separate the two Côte d'Azur sides. Although their first clash this season did not produce a winner (2-2), Nice will have their hearts set on bringing all three points back from the Stade Louis-II. To do so, the Nice defence will have to be wary of Ligue 1 Uber Eats's 17-goal top scorer Wissam Ben Yedder. 

Troyes, also winner in the first leg

Le Gym will host ESTAC (15th) on Sunday, 24 April, at 15:00. Troyes, back among the elite after a three-year absence, won the first match with Nice this season (1-0) thanks to a goal from Mama Baldé. Bruno Irles' troops currently have 29 points and sit two points clear of 18th and the Play-offs.

Bordeaux propping up the table

Before the long-awaited Coupe de France final against FC Nantes (Saturday, 7 May, at 21:00), Nice will visit Girondins de Bordeaux (20th) on the weekend of 30 April and 1 May. The exact day and time of the game are still to be determined. Currently bottom of the table, Bordeaux have the division's leakiest defence, with 70 goals conceded. Among these 70 goals, four came courtesy of OGC Nice: Justin Kluivert (1), Amine Gouiri (2) and Khéphren Thuram (1).

S.F.

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