Preview: Out of form, Nice & Lorient desperately need points | OneFootball

OGC Nice will host FC Lorient in a match between two out of form sides: Les Aiglons are in danger of dropping away from the European spots, whilst Les Merlus sit dangerously close to the drop zone

Friday evening's Ligue 1 Uber Eats action will see OGC Nice host FC Lorient at the Allianz Riviera in a clash between two out-of-form sides who have struggled in recent weeks to collect points at both ends of the table.

Franceso Farioli's Nice side are in danger of letting their dreams of European football slip away, as the likes of Lens and even Olympique Lyonnais pick up the pace in the end-of-season sprint. Les Aiglons sit only one point ahead of the Sang & Or, with Les Gones trailing by only three points. The test against Lorient comes just as Nice drew with Reims two weeks ago (0-0) after losing to FC Nantes (1-3) on home soil.

After a positive start to the season which harboured ambitions of European football on the French Riviera, OGC Nice have now only won just two matches in 2024 - with no team winning fewer games in the top-flight this year.

Lorient increasingly in danger… but there is hope

Meanwhile, Lorient will go into the game off the back of a 2-0 loss to Montpellier last weekend, as Régis Le Bris's side sit perilously level on points with Metz in 17th, only currently holding the relegation play-off spot on goal difference. All is not lost however for Les Merlus, as FC Nantes' last-minute win over Le Havre last Sunday (0-1) means that the Marine et Ciel are still within touching distance on 28 points in 15th place.

One big problem for Lorient has been their defensive solidity at the back: after a goalless draw with PSG on the first game of the season, Les Merlus have since conceded at least one goal in each of their last 13 away matches (28 in total), with only Marseille currently on a longer run.