Nice (AFP)

Five goals for five shots on target: the diabolical address of the Nice attackers hides real difficulties in carrying the danger, but remains the best asset to hang Paris SG, Sunday (1:00 p.m.) for the fourth day of Ligue 1.

The almost perfect efficiency of Amine Gouiri, author of a double against Lens, and Kasper Dolberg, double scorer in Strasbourg, with few balls cannot always hide the failings and difficulties of the Aiglons.

Additional tile for the reception of PSG: the Danish striker is forfeited, victim of Covid-19.

"We must analyze why we create so few opportunities", launched Patrick Vieira after the defeat (3-1) in Montpellier, "a very disappointing match in content" for the Nice coach.

In three matches, the Gym shot only 16 times, including the five on target which hit the mark, and Dolberg found a post in Montpellier.

In the Montpellier-Nice meeting alone, the MHSC scored thirteen strikes: three goals plus ten saves from Walter Benitez ...

"A bad performance like that of Montpellier, it can happen, relativizes the goalkeeper. But we must not repeat. We have learned a lot about this match, from our mistakes. It is essential to always want to move forward" .

This relative harmlessness of the Aiglons is a recurring problem, especially as the Gym still has one of the strongest ball possession in Ligue 1, 58.3% according to statistics from the Professional Football League (LFP).

Holding the ball has been a French Riviera philosophy for a decade, from Claude Puel to Lucien Favre, Pat 'Vieira's predecessors.

- Can the PSG be taken?

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Despite rapid recruitment (Gouiri, Schneiderlin, Kamara, Lotomba, Ndoye, Bambu, Daniliuc, Rony Lopes), Nice is struggling in the construction of the opponent and the collective offensive animation.

In addition to Dolberg, the Gym is also deprived of Alexis Claude-Maurice (Covid) and the Algerian international milieu Hicham Boudaoui (knee), a creator with an atypical and precious profile.

There is madness on the bench, but we must take into account the small physical form of Rony Lopes, after a season almost without playing time in Sevilla, and the fresh return of Youcef Atal, injured since the fall of 2019 .

The inventiveness of the Algerian, brilliant dribbler, will do the Aiglons good when he has regained all his pep.

Under these conditions, is it the right time to face PSG, even with Parisians diminished by an overloaded schedule and a car absent?

The realism of Marseille has in any case already hurt PSG.

OM tweaked their nets on three occasions in the "Clasico", including a goal denied for a contested offside.

"Despite its difficulties at the moment, there are still a lot of quality players in Paris," warns Benitez.

Vieira is not much more reassured.

"Paris has suspended, injured, absent, but given its workforce ... It remains a very big game, an exciting summit."

"With or without Neymar (suspended) and Mbappé (uncertain), obviously it is not the same thing, continues the coach. They are players appearing among the best four in the world. If Kylian plays, we will be more vigilant (smile)".

But Vieira will mainly monitor the effectiveness of its own attackers.

And to conclude: "I want to see the true face of my team".

© 2020 AFP