Nice seek to end 326-day Ligue 1 home drought against Lille | OneFootball

Nice are 326 days without a Ligue 1 home win at the Allianz Riviera and host Lille on matchday 5 on Sunday at 17:15 seeking to end it.

L'Équipe reports the squad identified intensity and commitment as the main shortfall rather than attitude.

Their last league home success was 2-0 against Lille. From that starting XI, only Yéhvann Diouf and Sofiane Diop remain regulars. Eight arrived and 17 left in summer, yet the run stands at nine draws and four defeats, despite two Coupe de France, one Europa League and one L1/L2 play-off home wins.

Coach Olivier Pantaloni, successor to Franck Haise and Claude Puel, says he did not live last season but there has still been no win since he came in, which is his concern. He accepts doubts may have lingered and says it is time to move on while recognising what happened.

Disrupted pre-seasons for Elye Wahi, Niels Nkounkou, Axel Witsel and Mohammed Amoura have not helped. Bottom of Ligue 1, Nice also want leaders, with Pantaloni citing Laurent Abergel’s impact at Lorient and calling for reference players to emerge.

Two meetings were held this week, one with the full squad and one with senior players. With Abergel out with a cruciate injury, leaders are scarce, Clauss is captain by default, Diouf and Youssouf Ndayishimiye are still finding rhythm, as is Witsel, while Alidu Seidu is yet to be integrated. Training has felt sharper since, and Mohamed Abdelmonem urges patience and unity.

Source: L'Équipe

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