Nice 1-1 Bordeaux

Niçois and Bordelais cancel each other out

At the end of a competitive Friday evening, Le Gym and Les Girondins couldn’t be separated  at the Allianz Riviera (1-1).

The features of the game 

Five days after dominating the best defence in the league (2-0 victory) in their match against Reims, Le Gym came up against another impressive opponent on Friday.

Strong on their travels this season (10 points won on the road, the second best away record, behind Paris), Paulo Sousa started an attacking line-up, and his side demonstrated a real desire to keep the ball. The Niçois attacked this equation with incredible commitment across the pitch. And especially in the visitors’ half, where their pressing bore fruits from the first minutes of the game with a strike from Ganago (3’) after an interesting chance for Ounas (2’).

Lees-Melou’s bullet header

Led by their number 10, who looked impressive on his return from injury, the Niçois entertained the supporters in the Allianz Riviera. After a balanced yet enjoyable first 27 minutes, Lees-Melou changed the mood in the stadium after a text book move. Walking through the Bordeaux side in just six passes - Danilo’s ball to Cyprien was particularly impressive - Les Aiglons saw Youcef Atal send an inch perfect ball into the box for the Number 8. With his head, Lees-Melou smashed the ball into the back of Costil’s net (1-0, 27').

120 seconds after PLM scored his first league goal of the season, Dolberg came so close to doubling the lead. Played in by an excellent pass from Ounas, the Danish forward was denied by the onrushing Costil (29').

The final quarter of an hour of the first half was dominated by the visitors. But Tchouaméni’s curled effort (38') and a close-range effort from Briand (39') both ended in the same way… being turned away for a corner by the excellent Walter Benitez. In an identical position to the one that Lees-Melou was in for his goal, De Préville completely missed the target (42') and allowed Les Aiglons to go in at half-time with the lead. 

Bordeaux equalise from the penalty spot 

A short-lived lead given that in the 47th minute of the game, the former Lille man played in Kamano, who squared up Nsoki with his run into the box. An indisputable penalty followed, and was converted by Briand, who had enough power behind his strike to beat Benitez (1-1, 49').

Atal tried everything 

The equaliser did nothing to quieten the home crowd, who did not stop encouraging Les Aiglons, but the spectacle became more scrappy. In the final half an hour, the two sides went tit for tat. Atal was a constant danger: he was denied by Costil from a tight angle (68’), the Algerian then just missed the target with a diving header after Myziane’s excellent strike was parried by Costil (81’) and then saw Koscielny smartly intercept his run down the right (86’).

For the away side, neither De Préville with a header (72’), nor Maja (88’) could find the target. And when they did get an attempt on goal, an impeccable Benitez was there to save (75’, Ottavio).

At the end of a balanced 90 minutes, the Niçois and their visitors left the field on level terms. A result that allows Bordeaux to provisionally slide up the table onto the podium, with just a two-point lead on Les Aiglons in 10th.

Patrick Vieira’s choices 

The Nice coach, who saw the return from injury of both Adam Ounas and Stanley Nsoki, decided to start with the two summer signings.

The former Parisian played on the left of a back four, made up of Dante and Hérelle through the middle and Youcef Atal on the right. 

In midfield, the Nice coach opted to start Pierre Lees-Melou, Danilo and Wylan Cyprien. 

In attack, Kasper Dolberg returned to the starting eleven, flanked by Ganago and Ounas.

At the break, Burner came on for Ganago. The full-back took the right back position, whilst Atal played on the left wing, where the Cameroonian forward had started.

After 79 minutes, the Nice coach took off Ounas and replaced him with Myziane.

Nice, Allianz Riviera,
OGC Nice 1-1 FC Girondins de Bordeaux (1-0 at half-time)

Matchday 13 of L1 - 08/11/2019

16 173 spectators

Referee: Johan Hamel

Goals: Lees-Melou (27') for Nice; Briand (47') for Bordeaux

Yellow cards: Lees-Melou (8'), Dante (56') for Nice; Jovanovic (22'), Mexer (73') for Bordeaux

OGC Nice: Benitez, Atal, Hérelle, Dante, Nsoki, Cyprien, Lees-Melou, Danilo, Ganago (Burner 46'), Ounas (Myziane 79'), Dolberg.

FC Girondins de Bordeaux: Costil, Mexer, Koscielny, Jovanovic, Benito, Otavio, Tchouaméni, Briand, Kamano (Maja 83'), De Préville (Ait Bennasser 88'), Hwang (Kalu 70')