After quickly taking the lead (6’) and then heading in at half-time on level terms following a disallowed goal for Nîmes, Nice couldn’t take advantage in the second half, particularly after the sending off of Boudaoui and a second goal for the visitors.

In the same way as at Reims on Wednesday, Les Niçois came up against an opponent who, from the very get go, put all of the right ingredients into the mix. With intensity and a collective pressing game, Les Crocodiles troubled the Red and Black defence from the 20th second of the game. Lighting the first spark of the game. Benitez, assisted by Burner, held off the danger. The home side weathered the storm and then exploded in the 6th minute. Myziane played a great ball into Claude-Maurice who let his technical ability do the talking. With some excellent skill with his right foot, the former Lorient man found the back of the net and opened the scoring in the game, at the same time as his own personal tally on the Côte d’Azur (1-0, 6’).

The Nice ruthlessness took the wind out of the sails of the visitors, who could no longer really trouble the hosts. Vieira’s side looked to take full advantage of that. In the 23rd minute, Myziane (again), delivered a beautiful ball to the back post for Boudaoui. The Algerian international rose highest and smashed a header towards goal, but Bernardoni just about saved on his line!

Les Nîmois, lacked a cutting edge in the final third, but came close in the 38th minute. Roux took off and with a bicycle kick, just missed Benitez’s left post. In the 43rd minute, the Nice defence was beaten from a corner and Landre put both sides on level terms (1-1). Just one minute later, Bernard Blaquart’s side thought that they had taken the lead through Philoppoteaux. But after consulting with VAR, Antony Gautier noticed a handball earlier in the move. The goal was disallowed and the two sides headed into the dressing rooms with a goal apiece.

At the start of the second half, Le Gym saw red. Boudaoui caught Philippoteaux late on the ankle and he headed back to the dressing room, just three minutes after coming leaving it. A numerical disadvantage for Les Aiglons, and they were made to pay for it. Nîmes got a free-kick out wide, which Dante cleared and Dolberg flicked on, but only as far as Philippoeaux, who beat Benitez from the edge of the box (1-2, 53'). 

The second half was scrappy and was dominated by several fouls (4 yellow cards), and didn’t allow the Rouge et Noir to get back into the game. Worse still, Koné scored a late goal on the counter (1-3, 90'+3). Coach Vieira’s side therefore suffered their first defeat at the Allianz Riviera since 18 October.

The match in images:

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