Reims vs Nice preview - Eysseric wary of Reims threat

Nice midfielder Valentin Eysseric is expecting a tough match when his side travel to take on Reims this weekend.

Reims had a change of management this week as head coach Jean-Luc Vasseur departed the club following a poor run of form - culminating in a 3-1 defeat at Lille - which has left them just three points above the Ligue 1 relegation zone.

Vasseur's assistant Olivier Guegan was handed the reins on Tuesday and faces Nice in his first match in charge at the Stade Auguste Delaune on Sunday.

And Eysseric is wary the change could bring a new-found confidence to the club as they take on a Nice side just three points better off.

He told L'Equipe: "It (the change) can give new ideas, a new range. But it can also be complicated for them because they are not confident.

Eysseric hopes Nice can build on their two-match unbeaten run after drawing 2-2 at home to Evian and defeating title contenders Lyon 2-1 a fortnight earlier.

He added: "We were disappointed with the draw against Evian but we claimed an outside success against Lyon (March 21)."

Nice assistant manager Fred Gioria confirmed that Mathieu Bodmer would return to the squad for Sunday's clash after missing last weekend's draw with Evian.

The 32-year-old has was suffering from a thigh injury sustained during training last week but has made a recovery in time for the match at Reims, although the clash comes too early for both Didier Digard and Mahamane Traore.

Gioria told ogcnice.com: "Didier (Digard) is not ready yet. Mahamane (Traore) either. But we will recover Mathieu (Bodmer) and players returning from suspension, Alassane (Plea) and Lloyd (Palun)."

Nice coach Claude Puel will also be without Brazilian playmaker Carlos Eduardo, who serves the second of his two-match suspension this weekend.

Meanwhile, new Reims boss Guegan believes "trust" within his squad is the key to success as he aims to drag his side up the Ligue 1 table on the back of three heavy defeats.

He told his club's official website: "Trust and wins are cultivated daily, every training session."