Back in Ligue 1 action after the international break, Les Aiglons suffered their first defeat of the season on Saturday, losing 3-1 in Montpellier where — historically — they have often struggled.

The Rouge-et-Noir saw the hosts monopolise possession with their 3-5-2 formation, but their initial attempts at forcing their way through were repulsed.

But Montpellier went ahead on 18 minutes. Andy Delort headed down for his strike partner Gaëtan Laborde, who swept home a half-volley that Walter Benitez had no chance of stopping (1-0). The Nice number one brilliantly kept the goalscorer at bay seven minutes later, denying Laborde twice in quick succession.

Benitez made a number of saves either side of the half-time break, but could not prevent his team going further behind six minutes into the second half when Daniel Congré headed home a corner (2-0). The former Toulouse defender then claimed a rare double, finishing from another Delort knockdown to make it three-nil on 63 minutes (3-0).

After coming off the bench, Amine Gouiri brightened up the game for the visitors, and it was his ball in from the left that allowed Dante to reduce the deficit (3-1, 69').

Patrick Vieira's men now face PSG at the Allianz Riviera next Sunday (kick-off 13.00CEST).

Full match report to follow

The match in photos

Khephren Thuram

Myziane

First L1 start with Nice for Rony Lopes

Walter Benitez

Down the left, Hassane Kamara came face-to-face with ex-Niçois Arnaud Souquet

Morgan Schneiderlin challenging Andy Delort

Pierre Lees-Melou

Kasper Dolberg marked closely by Vitorino Hilton

Photos : J-M.P.

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