Ligue 1 kicks off with Nice hosting Lorient at the Allianz Riviera, with both sides eager to make a strong start. Nice are missing several familiar faces including Terem Moffi, which could blunt their attack, while Lorient travel relatively intact. Recent meetings have been…
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Sign inThe 2026-27 Ligue 1 campaign begins on Saturday evening as Nice welcome Lorient to the Allianz Riviera, with kick-off set for 20:45 CEST. The fixture carries extra intrigue as Olivier Pantaloni faces the club he left at the end of last season, immediately adding a personal edge to the first round of the new term.
Nice have been dealt a serious setback with the news that Abergel could miss the entire season after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Mohamed-Ali Cho is also unlikely to feature despite seeing a proposed move to Hull City fall through earlier in the week. On a positive note, Victor Orakpo is set to lead the line after shaking off an injury to make a substitute appearance in the final pre-season friendly against Cagliari.
Nice possible starting lineup: Diouf; Koutoune, Ndayishimiye, Mandza Tsiendi; Clauss, Camara, Coulibaly, Bard; Jansson, Diop; Orakpo.
Lorient travel to the Côte d’Azur with their own selection concerns. Laurent Abergel, Mohamed Abdelmonem and Kwesi Oppong are all on the injury list, while the departure of Pantaloni has forced a tactical reset under new management.
Lorient possible starting lineup: Mvogo; Georgen, Talbi, Adjei, Le Bris; Kouassi, Makengo, Bernardeau; Ebong, Semedo, Koné.
Nice concluded their pre-season campaign with a mixed record of two wins, a draw and a defeat, but the overriding concern is the continuity of a squad that spent much of last term fighting against relegation. The return of Orakpo provides a focal point in attack, and his fitness could prove pivotal given the lack of other firepower with Cho sidelined. A solid opening performance in front of home support will be the minimum requirement for Pantaloni.
Pantaloni’s inside knowledge of Lorient’s squad and structure adds a tactical layer rarely seen on the opening weekend. Having overseen their survival bid last season, he will be acutely aware of the vulnerabilities in a defence that leaked goals too often. Lorient's likely back four of Georgen, Talbi, Adjei and Le Bris will need to be at their sharpest against a Nice side that will look to exploit space in wide areas through Clauss and Bard.
Life after Pantaloni begins away to the man himself. Lorient have not disclosed their new coach publicly, but the squad remains largely intact from last season, featuring familiar names like Makengo and Semedo. Pre-season results were not made widely available, yet the core of the side that secured survival will know they can ill afford a slow start with Nice’s forward line eager to make an impression.
Following Saturday's clash, Nice travel to the capital to face Paris FC on 30 August, while Lorient return to the Stade du Moustoir to host Troyes. A positive result for either side would set a valuable tone for the weeks ahead.
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