OGC Nice predicted XI v Benfica: Aston Villa-bound Evann Guessand out, Juma Bah to make debut | OneFootball

OGC Nice are without plenty of key players as they get their campaign underway against SL Benfica on Wednesday night.

The biggest absence is that of Evann Guessand. On Monday, Nice’s sporting director, Florian Maurice, announced that the Ivorian was out with a knee injury, however, just 24 hours later, it was reported that Guessand was on the verge of completing a move to Aston Villa. Regardless of the real reason, he will play no part against Benfica and has almost certainly played his final match for his formative club.

There are other absences. Mohamed Abdelmonm and Youssouf Ndayishimiye suffered ACL injuries at the end of last season and remain sidelined. Ali Abdi, Moïse Bombito, Mohamed Ali Cho, and Tanguy Ndombélé are also out.

Yehvann Diouf, Juma Bah, and Isak Jansson are all set to make their debuts for Le Gym in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League third round qualifier.

Nice likely line-up v Benfica

Yehvann Diouf; Dante, Juma Bah, Antoine Mendy; Melvin Bard, Morgan Sanson, Hicham Boudaoui, Jonathan Clauss; Isak Jansson, Terem Moffi, Badredine Bouanani. (L’Éq)

GFFN | Luke Entwistle