Category: OGC Nice

Sancho could be set for Man Utd stay, Gallagher linked with Chelsea exit – Paper Round

April 3, 2024

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Man Utd draw up defender shortlist including Bayern centre-back Upamecano – Paper Round

March 30, 2024

United target three defenders

Manchester United have three central defenders in mind when they look to reinforce this summer.

The Sun reports that Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano, Benfica’s Antonio Silva and Jean-Clair Todibo of Nice are all under consideration.

“Manchester United have drawn-up a three-man shortlist of centre-backs ahead of the summer transfer window,” the paper claims.

“New partial owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe will look to revolutionise The Red Devils’ squad ahead of next season.

“United are interested in Bayern Munich star Dayot Upamecano.

“The 25-year-old has tumbled down the pecking order of late, falling behind former Tottenham star Eric Dier.

“Also on United’s list is Upamecano’s French compatriot Jean-Clair Todibo.

“The third defender on United’s radar is Benfica’s Antonio Silva.”

Real Madrid expect to land Mbappe

Spanish newspaper Marca confirms that Real Madrid are expected to sign Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain this summer.

The Frenchman’s deal has long been rumoured, but is yet to be announced.

The paper discusses that Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr. and Endrick are just part of Real’s plans, saying: “These three Brazilians, initially signed by Real Madrid as promising talents in their homeland, with very little first-team experience at the time, will bolster the team’s attacking arsenal from July 2024. But they won’t be alone. Their primary accomplice will be Jude Bellingham.

“Additionally, the arrivals of Brahim, Joselu, Arda Guler, and possibly Kylian Mbappe will further fortify Madrid’s offensive capabilities. While Mbappe has yet to confirm his future club, many anticipate his move to Real Madrid after the French forward confirmed he would be leaving Paris Saint-Germain.

“With the potential additions of Mbappe and Endrick, Real Madrid’s attack promises to soar to new heights, potentially uniting the Brazilian prodigy with the world’s best player.”

Silva set to leave Chelsea

The Mirror believes that Chelsea’s Brazilian veteran defender Thiago Silva will leave at the end of the season.

The 39-year-old will come to the end of his contract and there have been no suggestions that talks will take place.

The paper states: “Thiago Silva is expected to leave Chelsea at the end of the season upon the expiry of his contract – ending his four-year stay at Stamford Bridge.

“The Brazilian veteran, 39, joined The Blues in the summer of 2020 and won the Champions League in his debut season under Thomas Tuchel, establishing himself as a firm fan favourite in west London.

“However, there have been no formal talks over a contract extension to date and sources have now indicated that barring a significant U-turn, Silva is poised to depart on a free transfer when his current deal is up. It’s no secret that former club Fluminense have been working tirelessly on a move to bring the former PSG captain home.

“Fluminense’s president Mario Bittencourt revealed earlier this week that he remains in close contact with the experienced Brazil international and that he has made it abundantly clear the door is wide open for an emotional return.”

De Zerbi considers Brighton exit

The Telegraph reports that Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi has no plans to sign a new contract with the club.

The paper explains that the Italian is linked with Liverpool and Bayern Munich as both sides look for a new manager.

“Roberto De Zerbi has cast doubt on his Brighton future amid expected interest from Liverpool, revealing that he wants talks with owner Tony Bloom after not agreeing a new contract,” the paper notes.

“With vacancies this summer at Liverpool and Bayern Munich, De Zerbi’s situation is being closely monitored and the Italian very noticeably admitted that the “problem” in his Brighton talks would be to find the same long-term vision.

“De Zerbi, who replaced Graham Potter in 2022, has a contract until 2026 at Brighton, where he has established himself as one of the best young managers in Europe after leading the club into Europe with a sixth-placed finish.

“However, when asked if he could sign a new contract at Brighton, De Zerbi gave a strikingly uncertain answer. ‘At the moment, no,’ he said ahead of Sunday’s match against Liverpool. ‘We didn’t find the agreement. The contract is a part of the future. It’s important for me, it’s important for everyone but it’s a small part, the big part is the plan.’”

Ludovic Blas fires Nantes to Coupe de France final win over Nice

May 7, 2022

FC Nantes secured their fourth Coupe de France crown and their first major trophy since 2001 as Antoine Kombouare’s side edged out OGC Nice 1-0 at the Stade de France in Paris to celebrate a long-awaited triumph.

The first half was cagey for both sides, with few clear-cut chances of note being created as the enormity of the occasion may have affected the players on the pitch.

However, just 15 seconds into the second half, there was drama as Nantes were awarded a penalty. Nice midfielder Hicham Boudaoui was judged to have handled the ball in the box by match official Stephanie Frappart.

Ligue 1

PSG slip up as Ligue 1 rivals Nice grab late winner

05/03/2022 AT 19:07

Nantes striker Ludovic Blas made no mistake from the spot-kick, as the forward smashed his penalty into the top corner beyond Marcin Bulka in the Nice goal to give Les Canaris the advantage with his 14th goal of the season.

Nice then had back-to-back chances midway through the second half to level the game, as Amine Gouiri’s low shot was kept out by Nantes goalkeeper Alban Lafont with a diving save. The follow-up from Andy Delort was then cleared off the line by defender Andrei Girotto.

Les Canaris held on in the dying moments to secure another famous night in their 79-year history – as tempers flared in the dying seconds.

TALKING POINT – A famous night for Nantes

After struggles in recent years, which has seen no less than two relegations to Ligue 2 in the period between their last major success, this victory will be sweet for the Nantes fans at the Stade de France.

Les Canaris previously won this trophy in 2000, with their last Ligue 1 success coming a year later. It has been a long 21-year wait for silverware but Nantes can now call themselves four-time Coupe de France winners.

Despite their current mid-table placing in Ligue 1, this victory means that Nantes now qualify for next season’s Europa League, which will be an exciting prospect given how many years it has been since they last competed on the European stage.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Nicolas Pallois

What a colossal display it was from the 34-year-old centre-back, who put in yet another terrific defensive performance for Nantes to ensure that his side were the ones to have their hands on a their fourth Coupe de France.

Pallois, who operated on the left of a three-man Nantes defence, was always at the right place, at the right time. This was summed up by his clearances and tackling.

It is well known that the defender was a close friend of Emiliano Sala, and there is no doubt that Pallois will be dedicating this triumph to his late former Nantes teammate.

PLAYER RATINGS

OGC Nice: Bulka 6, Dante 6, Todibo 6, Lotomba 6, Bard 6, Gouiri 7, Boudaoui 5, Thuram 6, Rosario 6, Delort 6, Dolberg 5. Subs: Brahimi 6, Lemina 6, Kluivert 6, Guessand 5.

FC Nantes: Lafont 7, Girotto 7, Castelletto 6, Pallois 8, Blas 7, Coco 6, Chirivella 6, Merlin 6, Moutoussamy 6, Simon 6, Muani 6. Subs: Fabio 6, Cyprien 6, Bukari 6.

KEY MOMENTS

29’- CLOSE! – Gouiri has a big chance for Nice, but it is blocked! The midfielder picks up the ball on the edge of the area, before going for goal with a low shot towards the bottom-right corner, but the ball takes a touch off a Nantes defender and trickles wide! Corner for Nice.

27’ – SAVE! – Merlin plays a good first-time ball from the left flank for Blas in the centre of the box, but Bulka rushes off his line to make a save with his legs and put his body on the line! Great goalkeeping.

46’ – PENALTY TO NANTES! – Within 15 seconds of the second half kicking off, Boudaoui is penalised for handling the ball in the box from Merlin’s pass! Drama here!

47’ – GOAL! (Ludovic Blas penalty) – What a penalty! Nantes lead here at the Stade de France! Blas smashes his spot-kick into the roof of the net to give his side the dream start to the second half for Les Canaris!

70’ – FANTASTIC LAST-DITCH DEFENDING BY NANTES! – Gouiri causes problems in the box again, as the midfielder fires in a low shot which forces Lafont to make a diving save! Delort then opts to hit the follow-up, but Girotto is there to make a crucial goal-line clearance.

KEY STATS

  • Nantes win their first major trophy in 21 years – (Ligue 1 and Champions Trophy in 2001 were their last). This is their fourth French Cup victory in their history, after previous successes in 1979, 1999 and 2000.
  • 68% of Coupe de France finals in the 21st century have been won by a one-goal margin (15/22). 10 of these 22 finals were won by the score of 1-0 (45 %).

Ligue 1

Nantes stun PSG with first-half flurry as red card overturned, Neymar scores and misses penalty

19/02/2022 AT 19:18

Coupe de France

PSG crash out of Coupe de France after shootout defeat to Nice

31/01/2022 AT 22:50

Ludovic Blas fires Nantes to Coupe de France final win over Nice

May 7, 2022

FC Nantes secured their fourth Coupe de France crown and their first major trophy since 2001 as Antoine Kombouare’s side edged out OGC Nice 1-0 at the Stade de France in Paris to celebrate a long-awaited triumph.

The first half was cagey for both sides, with few clear-cut chances of note being created as the enormity of the occasion may have affected the players on the pitch.

However, just 15 seconds into the second half, there was drama as Nantes were awarded a penalty. Nice midfielder Hicham Boudaoui was judged to have handled the ball in the box by match official Stephanie Frappart.

Ligue 1

PSG slip up as Ligue 1 rivals Nice grab late winner

05/03/2022 AT 19:07

Nantes striker Ludovic Blas made no mistake from the spot-kick, as the forward smashed his penalty into the top corner beyond Marcin Bulka in the Nice goal to give Les Canaris the advantage with his 14th goal of the season.

Nice then had back-to-back chances midway through the second half to level the game, as Amine Gouiri’s low shot was kept out by Nantes goalkeeper Alban Lafont with a diving save. The follow-up from Andy Delort was then cleared off the line by defender Andrei Girotto.

Les Canaris held on in the dying moments to secure another famous night in their 79-year history – as tempers flared in the dying seconds.

TALKING POINT – A famous night for Nantes

After struggles in recent years, which has seen no less than two relegations to Ligue 2 in the period between their last major success, this victory will be sweet for the Nantes fans at the Stade de France.

Les Canaris previously won this trophy in 2000, with their last Ligue 1 success coming a year later. It has been a long 21-year wait for silverware but Nantes can now call themselves four-time Coupe de France winners.

Despite their current mid-table placing in Ligue 1, this victory means that Nantes now qualify for next season’s Europa League, which will be an exciting prospect given how many years it has been since they last competed on the European stage.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Nicolas Pallois

What a colossal display it was from the 34-year-old centre-back, who put in yet another terrific defensive performance for Nantes to ensure that his side were the ones to have their hands on a their fourth Coupe de France.

Pallois, who operated on the left of a three-man Nantes defence, was always at the right place, at the right time. This was summed up by his clearances and tackling.

It is well known that the defender was a close friend of Emiliano Sala, and there is no doubt that Pallois will be dedicating this triumph to his late former Nantes teammate.

PLAYER RATINGS

OGC Nice: Bulka 6, Dante 6, Todibo 6, Lotomba 6, Bard 6, Gouiri 7, Boudaoui 5, Thuram 6, Rosario 6, Delort 6, Dolberg 5. Subs: Brahimi 6, Lemina 6, Kluivert 6, Guessand 5.

FC Nantes: Lafont 7, Girotto 7, Castelletto 6, Pallois 8, Blas 7, Coco 6, Chirivella 6, Merlin 6, Moutoussamy 6, Simon 6, Muani 6. Subs: Fabio 6, Cyprien 6, Bukari 6.

KEY MOMENTS

29’- CLOSE! – Gouiri has a big chance for Nice, but it is blocked! The midfielder picks up the ball on the edge of the area, before going for goal with a low shot towards the bottom-right corner, but the ball takes a touch off a Nantes defender and trickles wide! Corner for Nice.

27’ – SAVE! – Merlin plays a good first-time ball from the left flank for Blas in the centre of the box, but Bulka rushes off his line to make a save with his legs and put his body on the line! Great goalkeeping.

46’ – PENALTY TO NANTES! – Within 15 seconds of the second half kicking off, Boudaoui is penalised for handling the ball in the box from Merlin’s pass! Drama here!

47’ – GOAL! (Ludovic Blas penalty) – What a penalty! Nantes lead here at the Stade de France! Blas smashes his spot-kick into the roof of the net to give his side the dream start to the second half for Les Canaris!

70’ – FANTASTIC LAST-DITCH DEFENDING BY NANTES! – Gouiri causes problems in the box again, as the midfielder fires in a low shot which forces Lafont to make a diving save! Delort then opts to hit the follow-up, but Girotto is there to make a crucial goal-line clearance.

KEY STATS

  • Nantes win their first major trophy in 21 years – (Ligue 1 and Champions Trophy in 2001 were their last). This is their fourth French Cup victory in their history, after previous successes in 1979, 1999 and 2000.
  • 68% of Coupe de France finals in the 21st century have been won by a one-goal margin (15/22). 10 of these 22 finals were won by the score of 1-0 (45 %).

Ligue 1

Nantes stun PSG with first-half flurry as red card overturned, Neymar scores and misses penalty

19/02/2022 AT 19:18

Coupe de France

PSG crash out of Coupe de France after shootout defeat to Nice

31/01/2022 AT 22:50