In a match where they tried everything, OGC Nice lost to PSG on Matchday 30 of L1 (0-2).

There are no encouraging defeats, but there are ways to lose. This Saturday, in a sold-out Allianz Riviera, the Gym lost "without going back on itself", to quote coach Digard. Without going back on themselves and constantly attacking, from start to finish. The only things missing from our Aiglons against the Parisian leaders were efficiency and success. In the end, they had nothing to be ashamed of and the Allianz gave them a standing ovation as they left the pitch. This is backed up by a stat from Opta: "Paris conceded 21 shots against Nice, their second-highest total in a Ligue 1 match in the last five seasons, behind the 24 they conceded against Reims on 8 October 2022 (0-0)."

Of those 21 shots, seven were saved by a brilliant Donnarumma. Two hit the woodwork. The first came at the start of the second half, when Dante, in true Pancho Abardonado fashion, took the ball on the half-volley at the far post after a corner was cleared. The ball hit the bar, then the post, and ended up behind the goal line but did not cross it completely, which was confirmed by Goal-line technology. The other bar was hit by Danilo, who deflected Bouanani's ball towards his goal in the closing stages of the game. When it's not going your way…

Tactically, the Gym started in a 3-4-3 formation, with Ndayishimiye on the right, Boudaoui as the holder, and Thuram in a left-sided attacking midfield role. After Messi opened the scoring (26'), Didier Digard moved the strong Youssouf into the middle. The system evolved into a 4-3-3 and allowed the Aiglons to be attacking and dangerous. Very quickly, this tactical shift and brave intentions started creating chances: Pepe was stopped by Donnarumma after an extraordinary ball from Thuram at the far post (43'), and Moffi's header was also saved by the Italian (45').

Paris also had opportunities, especially in the first half. They hit the post through Danilo (22'). But PSG had one thing going for them on Saturday: they were able to turn their best moments into goals. Ramos doubled their lead in the 76th minute, against the run of play, and it was game over. 

The introductions of Brahimi, Rosario (on the right of the defence), Laborde, Barkley and Bouanani did not slow down the Red and Blacks' momentum, in fact quite the opposite. But Nice could not get on the scoresheet.

It is now time to look ahead to the first leg of the Conference League quarter-final at Basel on Thursday (9pm).