Preview: Dijon vs. Nice - prediction, team news, lineups

Dijon's relegation from Ligue 1 could be confirmed this weekend as they prepare to welcome Nice to the Stade Gaston Gerard in gameweek 33 on Sunday afternoon.

Les Hiboux are 17 points adrift of safety with only six games left to play, whereas Nice seem destined to finish in mid-table obscurity despite their recent upturn in form.

Match preview

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The sinking ship that is Dijon is only heading in one direction. David Linares had initially given the Hiboux faithful hope with some resilient performances, but the 45-year-old has been unable to prevent the inevitable.

Les Hiboux were never expected to travel home from Monaco for something to show for their efforts, and Niko Kovac's side strolled to a 3-0 triumph over Linares's men, with super sub Wissam Ben Yedder coming off the bench to net twice - by which point he had already missed a penalty - after Stevan Jovetic had tapped home from his teammate's spot kick error.

Rooted to the bottom of the table with only 15 points in the entire season, a loss would confirm Dijon's demotion if Lorient or Nimes can pick up at least a point in the next round of fixtures, and should 19th-placed Nantes somehow get the better of Lyon, Les Hiboux will be consigned to a 20th-placed finish.

Linares has now overseen 12 consecutive losses in Ligue 1, and another defeat would see them set the unwanted record of the longest losing streak in the history of the French top flight, while their goal-shy attackers have now failed to find the back of the net in three consecutive matches.

Les Hiboux are also yet to claim a victory on home soil this season - making them the only team in the top five European leagues who have failed to register a single league win on familiar territory - and they could prove easy pickings for a resurgent Nice outfit despite their participation in one of the dullest games of the season last time out.

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Arsenal loanee William Saliba came closest to breaking the deadlock against Reims last weekend - albeit in his own net - as the 20-year-old just about managed to avoid scoring an own goal with a sliced clearance in a dismal 0-0 draw at the Allianz Riviera.

With only three shots on target between the two sides, neither Reims' Boulaye Dia nor Nice's Amine Gouiri could produce the goods on the day, although Nice have now strung together a six-game unbeaten run in the top flight - winning four and drawing two in that run - and their fleeting hopes of a European berth are still alive.

Adrien Ursea's side are certainly the rank outsiders for a spot in continental competition, though, as they currently occupy ninth spot in the table - nine points adrift of surprise package Lens in the top five - and they still have to lock horns with Montpellier HSC, Lille and Lyon before the campaign concludes.

With seven points taken from their last three away fixtures, the Nice faithful would be gobsmacked if their side somehow fail to return to winning ways against the league's whipping boys, and Sunday's game represents the perfect opportunity for Les Aiglons to end their six-game run without a clean sheet on the road.

However, one of Dijon's two victories this season came against Nice in a 3-1 away triumph back in November, and they have managed to prevail in three of their last five league matches against Les Aiglons, but recent history is unlikely to count for much given their abysmal spell of results.

Team News

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Dijon regulars Didier Ndong and Ngonda Muzinga were forced to miss the trip to Monaco due to illness and a muscular problem respectively, and both men are considered major doubts for the visit of Nice.

Mounir Chouiar - still waiting for his first goal of the campaign - is nursing an ankle problem and unlikely to feature either, although the 22-year-old is being strongly linked with a move away from the club.

Frederic Sammaritano completes a quartet of absentees for Dijon with a hamstring issue, while Mama Balde - who notched up a brace in November's win over Nice - will hope to mark his 50th Ligue 1 appearance with a rare goal.

Nice have most of their big-hitters fit and raring to go for the trip to the Stade Gaston Gerard, and they have received a welcome boost with the news that Youcef Atal has returned to training after a groin injury.

However, it remains to be seen if the injury-plagued right-back will be given the green light to feature this weekend, and Ursea's only other concerns are long-term absentees Hicham Boudaoui, Jeff Reine-Adelaide and Dante - with the latter two out for the season - although Boudaoui is reportedly nearing a comeback.

The 21-year-old has been out with a sprained knee for the past two months so would likely be restricted to a place on the bench if he is miraculously passed fit for this game, meaning that Pierre Lees Melou will hope to build on the two goals he already boasts against his former club.

Dijon possible starting lineup:
Allagbe; Panzo, Coulibaly, Manga; Boey, Marie, Lautoa, Chala; Celina; Balde, Kamara

Nice possible starting lineup:
Benitez; Lotomba, Saliba, Todibo, Kamara; Schneiderlin, Lees Melou, Claude Maurice; Maolida, Dolberg, Gouiri

We say: Dijon 0-2 Nice

Linares will be refusing to give up hope while it is still mathematically possible for his side to pull off a great escape, but results elsewhere could seal his side's fate this weekend. It may be too little too late for Nice with regard to their European ambitions, but the in-form Aiglons should have no problem returning to winning ways and condemning the hapless Hiboux to a record-breaking defeat.