Nice vs Monaco preview - Monaco seek end to slump

Posted Friday, February 20, 2015 by PA

Monaco head coach Leonardo Jardim hopes to revive his side's stuttering season by masterminding a French Riviera derby victory at Nice on Friday.

Monaco's quest for a first Ligue 1 title in 15 years has ground to a halt of late, with Les Rouges et Blancs winless in their least two league matches and particularly poor against Guingamp last time out as they lost 1-0.

Jardim's side are now 10 points behind league leaders Lyon, but victory at the Allianz Riviera would see Monaco close to within six points of third-placed Paris St Germain, who currently occupy the final Champions League qualification spot.

With a place in Europe's premier club competition once again at stake, Jardim insists his players are focused on the task at hand, even with next week's mouth-watering Champions League encounter against Arsenal on the horizon.

"The derby is always a special and important match for both the team and the fans," Jardim said at Thursday's pre-match press conference.

"We have to have lots of intensity and concentration to beat Nice. Everybody has their heads screwed on and we are looking forward to the match."

Defensive midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia reiterated his manager's stance that the Monaco players will be focused on Friday's derby and not on next week's last-16 first-leg tie against the Gunners.

"No-one will be thinking about the Champions League on Friday night, but instead about Ligue 1," the France international said.

"Nice are a good team who can give us plenty of problems. There is a certain atmosphere around the place when the derby is approaching."

Monaco have been boosted by Joao Moutinho's return to training and the Portugal playmaker could feature against Claude Puel's side, but Ricardo Carvalho (calf), Tiemoue Bakayoko (thigh) and Andrea Raggi (knee) remain sidelined.

Nice, meanwhile, have drawn their last three Ligue 1 matches to sit ninth in the standings after three successive league victories to start 2015.

Their recent dip in form should be put into perspective, however, given they finished last season in 17th place, just two points clear of the relegation zone.

Nice will rise to seventh if they can earn their second successive derby victory against the principality club.