Girondins de Bordeaux v OGC Nice (Kick-off 1700 CET on Sunday)

Nice, on 37 points, are two points clear of Les Girondins with 12 matches remaining this campaign. In Round 26 Bordeaux scored a creditable 4-3 loss at champions Paris Saint-Germain, while Nice were left disappointed as they allowed a 2-0 lead to slip as they drew 2-2 with Brest.

Bordeaux coach Paulo Sousa said: "Nice will be a completely different game to the one we played in Paris. Paris are a totally different side to anybody else you come up against. We did some good things in Paris and what I've been trying to instill into my players ever since I joined the club; that's to say that whether we're playing at home or away and no matter who we're up against we play to win the game. Scoring three goals in Paris and having two or three clear chances means we're a team that fights hard against all opponents. Every time we need to have more belief in our ability and we need to be more consistent."

Sousa is convinced Nice have what it takes to secure continental football and Les Aiglons have lost only one of their last 10 league games, admittedly in a run that has contained more draws - five - than boss Patrick Vieira would have liked. Bordeaux, on the other hand, have won only two of their last 10 league outings and are one of only three clubs never to have recorded back-to-back wins this season.

Sousa: "I think they're a team capable of competing for Europe"

Portuguese coach Sousa commented: "Nice have the possibility of having investment and I think this year they've already spent around 60 million euros. I think they're a team capable of competing for Europe above all because of the attacking talent they have. Their coach is someone I like a lot especially because of the way he tries to get his team to play. Their style is based on having the ball but they can change the pace of play by playing the ball in behind the defence."

Bordeaux will have to make do without veteran forward Jimmy Briand, who remains stuck on 99 career Ligue 1 Conforama goals, while Swiss international defender Loris Benito is the club's other absentee through suspension.

Vieira: "I expect more from my squad"

Vieira, speaking after the 2-2 with Brest, said: "I expect more from my squad. In our recent matches we have always conceded goals in our weak spells. We need to control those better and not give our opponents the stick to beat us with. It's a pity. In recent months we could have been higher but also lower in the table. Above and beyond our position, it's the quality of our play that matters the most to me."

Probable Teams

Bordeaux: Costil (c); Kwateng, Koscielny, Pablo, Sabaly; Otavio, Basic; Oudin, De Préville, Hwang; Maja

Nice: Benitez; Burner, Danilo, Dante (c), Nsoki; Lusamba, Thuram, Lees-Melou; Ganago, Dolberg, Claude-Maurice