For their return to competitive football after the international break, OGC Nice headed to the Parc de Princes on Saturday for Matchday 9 of Ligue 1. Les Aiglons fell to defeat (2-1) despite a solid performance from which they deserved more.

OGC Nice kicked-off the second part of the season at the Parc des Princes on Saturday evening, on Matchday 9 of Ligue 1. Against PSG, the unbeaten league leaders before the match (7 wins, 1 draw), Les Azuréens suffered a painful defeat (2-1).  

Without the suspended Jean-Clair Todibo, Joe Bryan (adductors) and Hicham Boudaoui (back), Lucien Favre opted to start with a back five, with Rosario-Dante-Viti making up the central trio to take on the Paris attack. The early stages of the encounter showed that the Swiss coach had made the right choice. Well set-up, Dante and his teammates contained the home side's attacks, allowing their midfielders to play their own game. Mario Lemina, Aaron Ramsey, Ross Barkley - starting for the first time for Le Gym - and an excellent Sofiane Diop put in the hard yards and showed some great one-touch football to push forward. But the French champions' rear-guard left no space for Gaëtan Laborde to play in.

Le Gym therefore needed to be patient, not hesitating to move the ball around even in their own area. Against PSG, it was proof of a team confident in its own strengths, aware that it was capable of troubling its opponent with smart football. However, it was from a Barkley back-pass that Vitinha intercepted and allowed Les Parisiens to take the lead. Messi picked up the ball, but was brought down on the edge of the Nice box by Dante. The Argentinian placed the ball in the top corner of Kasper Schmeichel's net from the resulting free-kick (1-0, 28')

LABORDE EQUALISES IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BREAK

It was a tough blow for Lucien Favre's men as they had shown so much desire. They were less incisive in the final moments of the first half, but did stand strong to avoid conceding a second goal before the break. Things improved immediately in the second half, when Gaëtan Laborde found the back of the net after a cross to the far post from Youcef Atal (1-1, 48'). The former Rennes man's first goal for the club put his team back on track. Even better, Les Niçois then continued to push as they attempted to find a second.

When Kylian Mbappé came on off the bench, PSG tried to step up a gear for the final stages of the match. Le Gym held on for a long while, with Kasper Schmeichel making an excellent save to deny an unmarked Nuno Mendes (71’). But in the end, in an incredibly cruel manner, PSG finally took the lead. The home side won the ball back high up the pitch, and Mukiele was quickly played in deep. He pulled the ball back to Mbappé who found the back of the net with a first-timed shot (2-1, 87’). 

FOCUS SWITCHES TO THE CONFERENCE LEAGUE

It was a tough scenario for Les Azureans, who put up a great fight against the reigning French champions after a two-week break. Lucien Favre's men showed that they were ready for the series of 11 games in 6 weeks that awaits them ahead of the World Cup. The next match will take them to the Czech Republic to face FC Slovácko on Thursday at 6.45pm on Matchday 3 of the Europa League Conference.

THE MATCH IN IMAGES