OGC Nice were beaten 1-2 by FC Nantes on Matchday 27 at the Allianz Riviera on Sunday. Terem Moffi (72') scored Le Gym's only goal from the penalty spot.

It was a complicated Easter Sunday for Les Aiglons at the Allianz Riviera. Under a drizzle and cloudy skies, Francesco Farioli's men fell to Nantes, a fortnight after a big win away to Lens (M26, 1-3). The Red and Blacks, who were without Khephren Thuram and Pablo Rosario (suspended), as well as Youssouf Ndayishimiye, Morgan Sanson and Sofiane Diop (injured), were driven by the desire to kick-start a run of form at home and fielded an all-new midfield featuring Tom Louchet, Hicham Boudaoui and Alexis Claude-Maurice. Nice suffered in the face of a strong start from the Canaries, reinvigorated by Antoine Kombouaré's return to the bench.

A DIFFICULT START

Despite a lively Mohamed-Ali Cho, who sent in a dangerous cross that couldn't find Jeremie Boga (8'), it was the visitors who got off to the better start, with Matthis Abline making the difference. Found by Moussa Sissoko on the edge of the area, the striker turned before unleashing a low shot that was well saved by Marcin Bułka (18'). However, Le Gym's Polish keeper was powerless to prevent the Nantes striker, who was perfectly set up by Kelvin Amian, from heading in a minute later (0-1, 19').

Struggling to get their game going, the Allianz Riviera side came close to conceding another when Abline again broke down the left. His cross was poorly dealt with by the Nice defence and fell to Florent Mollet, whose acrobatic effort was blocked by the chest of Jean-Clair Todibo (26').

Although Cho made several breakthroughs coming inside, such as his failed attempt to combine with Moffi (28'), or his long-range effort (31'), the Canaries created the last chance of the first half. Sent in behind by Sissoko, Mollet burst into the box before being stopped by a saving tackle from Dante (40').

GUESSAND WAKES UP LE GYM

The Aiglons came back from the break looking better with a switch to a 3-4-3 formation and had a number of good chances from set-pieces, such as Louchet's (48', 51') and Perraud's (54') attempts, but without really troubling the opposition keeper. More compact and organised in their own half, Nantes then caused problems on the counter-attack, as in the case of Abline's run followed by Mollet's off-target shot (64') or Sissoko's one-on-one with Bułka (65').

Having only just come on, it was Evann Guessand who finally woke Le Gym up. The man with 4 league goals to his name this season was picked out deep by Moffi, but was fouled by Eray Cömert in the area. The result was a penalty for his Nigerian team-mate, who wasted no time in slotting the ball past Lafont (1-1, 72').

NANTES HOLD ON

However, Antoine Kombouaré's men were full of energy and quickly got back on the attack, with Abline being pushed aside by Antoine Mendy just as he was about to shoot inside the area. Despite a good attempt from Bułka, who was able to touch the ball, Mostafa Mohamed put enough power into his penalty to restore the visitors' lead (1-2, 76').

The Rouge et Noir were not discouraged, however, and pressed forward, creating a number of chances during the long eight minutes of added time. Mendy (88') and then Bard (90'+3) tried their luck from distance, but failed to catch out an unstoppable Alban Lafont, as in the first game when Le Gym lost by the slimmest of margins as well. A tough loss, but one that should not deter OGC Nice, who are assured of finishing Matchday 27 in the top five. They will need to come back stronger on Sunday 7 April, away to Reims (3pm).

Hugo Rondet