It's a hot date, much more than a football match, which is looming this Wednesday evening at the Allianz Riviera.
Almost six months after a derby interrupted in the 76th minute following incidents, the reunion between the two rival clubs has been animating the debates for a week on the Côte d'Azur.
In town, the names of Dimitri Payet and Matteo Guendouzi are on everyone's lips.
The two OM players will be booed heartily each time they touch the ball.
Despite the context and a rivalry at the top between the two Mediterranean neighbors, the president of Nice Jean-Pierre Rivère, at the heart of the turmoil last summer, wanted to reduce the pressure.
“It is absolutely necessary to show that the Nice public is a good public, capable of carrying its team towards qualification with an irreproachable attitude, hopes the leader of the Riviera.
I can't imagine for a second that one or more people would disrupt this match after what has already happened.
“Since the bottle received by Payet, the club has had anti-projectile nets installed in front of the two bends.
The movement of Marseille supporters has been prohibited
To prevent any new overflow, the club, in close collaboration with the Prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes, will deploy an exceptional security device.
The movement of Marseille supporters has been prohibited and anyone claiming to be such will not be able to enter the Allianz Riviera.
Clearly, OM jerseys and scarves are banned from the Nice enclosure.
Three CRS companies, i.e. 150 members of the police, and 700 security agents were mobilized for this quarter-final of the Coupe de France, the first rows of the four stands retracted and an anti-intrusion device put in place.
"This match will be scrutinized, everyone must be aware of it," says Jean-Pierre Rivère.
This Tuesday, Christophe Galtier only wanted to talk about football, as if to dispassionate the debates.
“There is enthusiasm, people talk to me a lot about this derby but above all there is a great match to play and a qualification to seek, confided the Nice coach.
I have no scars from the first leg and no message to convey
(to the supporters)
.
I just ask people to enjoy their return to the stadium.
A stadium that will be full for the second time this season since… the August derby.