Nice vs Nantes preview - Alhadhur fired up for Nice trip

Posted Friday, February 06, 2015 by PA

Nantes defender Chaker Alhadhur has stressed the importance of his side's Ligue 1 trip to rivals Nice on Sunday.

The two sides sit on the same number of points and a win this weekend could prove crucial in their respective bids to muscle in on the Europa League qualifying slots.

Nantes go into the game without a win in four league games but buoyed by last week's 1-1 draw with Lille which sent them back up to ninth in the table.

Alhadhur told his club's official website: "We have not been able to get a win but we got a good draw against Lille last week and in my opinion we deserved more.

"We had a nice start to the season and we have got to remember that as we try to come back.

"Nice are a direct rival to us with the same number of points, and we will go there confident of taking all three points."

Nice go into the game without striker Neal Maupay who is suspended after his sending-off in last Saturday's goalless draw with Metz.

The result brought an end to the club's run of four straight wins but was blasted by coach Claude Puel, who described the decision to play with a white ball in snowy conditions as "nonsense".

Puel added in a press conference: "My players were fantastic in the conditions. I could not see the ball and nor could the fourth official or the linesman.

"The way the players responded to the conditions and worked as a team was good, and to get a point in such conditions is a positive."