Nice 4-1 Caen

A perfect final home game

For their final outing at the Allianz Riviera, OGC Nice went to town. In a one way encounter where they were able to combine attractive football with efficiency in front of goal, Lucien Favre’s side only left crumbs for a well beaten Caen side (4-1). With one game to go, they knock St-Etienne out of 6th place (defeat to Monaco) but remain 3 points behind Rennes, who beat Paris (2-0).

A “beauty” from 30 metres out, after just 2 minutes. Brice Samba beaten, Super Mario was able to salute the Red and Black fans, like a boss. Like a guide.


The start to the match was perfect, a brilliant scenario. The rest of the game was a real spectacle. 

Trailing and obliged to try for something, the Caennais were forced to defend behind the ball. An excellent piece of news for the Aiglons, who started to play their own game, like in the best moments of the season. Driven on by Mika Seri, who was extremely active, accurate and inventive.

Everything went their way in Week 37 of Ligue 1. Or at least at the Allianz, given that Rennes secured a win at the Parc des Princes at the same time.

At the Allianz, we saw a one and two touch game, movement and excellent tempo. In a 4-3-3, against a 4-4-2 set-up to be successful through the middle, the Azuréens stretched their opponents. In length, width and depth. The encounter “quickly felt comfortable”. A penalty smashed home by Balotelli, was disallowed and then  was scored at the second attempt by the Italian - powerfully along the floor to the keeper’s right -, in the 8th minute and that just reinforced the pleasant spring feeling.

Although, this season, they have already collapsed after good starts, this time, Dante and co. didn’t falter. As if they wanted to thanks their fans for their unwavering support. Playing great football, Nice made the Normands suffer. They created a ton of chances by building up each of their moves patiently (strikes from Plea caught by Samba in the 14th and just wide in the 38th; a header from Dante which was off-target in the 42nd minute). A delight for the spectators. A taste of what would take place shortly after the 30 minute mark…

By the touchline, in the middle of the pitch, Allan Saint-Maximin did well, then got going and followed his pass. The ball made it to Signore Balotelli, who played in the number 7. Running like a dart, “ASM” completed the job with his left, before celebrating his 3rd goal of the season in Ligue 1 with his teammates (3-0, 38’).


Seri rewarded

A monstrous sprint from the very same Saint-Maximin, after he was superbly played in by Tameze, got the second half underway. Unfortunately, Samba got his body in the way (47’), but the tone had been set. Benitez caught a header from Da Silva (53’) and, shortly after, Super Mario ran towards goal and was brought down by Diomandé, who received two yellows and left his side with an numerical disadvantage for the final thirty minutes of the game. The Niçois’s hold on the game was there for all to see. Chances followed but they didn’t find a way past Brice Samba until… a beauty coming from the Côte d'Ivoire. From a quick free-kick taken by Cyprien, Plea played Mika Seri in on goal with a first-time ball. So often magical since his arrival in Nice, the number 6 finished the job with an impeccable flick (4-0 72'). 

After a smart save, Benitez was beaten by Kouakou (76'), in what was the only negative of the evening for the Niçois.

After a superb performance in front of their fans, the Niçois will need to get a result at Lyon to do what none of their predecessors have done before: secure a 3rd consecutive European qualification. 

A real challenge...

C.D.

Nice, Allianz Riviera,
OGC Nice 4-1 SM Caen (3-0 at half-time)

Week 37 of L1 - 12/05/2018

22 570 spectators

Referee: Frank Schneider

Goals: Balotelli (2' ; 9' pen.), Saint-Maximin (37'), Seri (72') for Nice; Kouakou (76') for Caen.

Yellow cards: Guilbert (35'), Diomandé (53', 54') for Caen 

Red cards: Diomandé (54') for Caen

OGC Nice: Benitez - Souquet (Burner 90'), Marlon, Dante (cap), Le Marchand - Tameze (Srarfi 79'), Cyprien, Seri - Saint-Maximin, Balotelli, Plea (Le Bihan 79'). 

SM Caen: Samba - Guilbert, Diomandé, Da Silva, Mbengue - Féret, Aït Bennasser, Peeters (Deminguet 46') - Rodelin (Sankoh 69') - Santini, Crivelli (Kouakou 46').