Thanks to a goal from Jeremie Boga, the Rouge et Noir claimed a 1-0 victory over FC Nantes at the Allianz Riviera on Matchday 4 of Ligue 1.

The hosts showed fluid play, movement and created chances… The score could have been heavier, but Le Gym did the job in front of 20,096 supporters, keeping their first clean sheet of the season, bouncing back after the Le Havre setback and securing back-to-back home wins.Jeremie Boga was the sole scorer of the match after a brilliant solo run just before the hour mark. 

With this win, Nice provisionally sit 9th in Ligue 1 after four games, with 6 points (2 more than at the same stage last season).

Against FC Nantes, the main change in Franck Haise’s starting XI was the inclusion of Charles Vanhoutte in midfield alongside Hicham Boudaoui, making his Ligue 1 debut with his first start in a Nice shirt. Up front, Kevin Carlos once again led the line, supported by Sofiane Diop on the right wing and Jeremie Boga on the left. Diouf played in goal behind a three-man defence of Dante (captain), Oppong and Bah, while Clauss played at right wing-back and Bard on the left.

Nice domination

Le Gym looked threatening from the get go. In the 2nd minute, Kevin Carlos connected with a Clauss cross from the right, but Lopes saved. Nice piled on the pressure with multiple corners and put Nantes’ defence under strain, though were unable to make the breakthrough. Chances kept coming: Diop headed a Bard cross from the left (16’), Boudaoui tried his luck after a fine team move (17’), then Diop’s strike hit the post and Oppong’s shot was parried by Lopes (19’). 

Diouf also stayed sharp, denying Lepenant’s effort (11’) and Hong’s close-range header (18’).

Nice dominated territorially and set the tempo. Clauss forced Lopes into action with a free kick (22’), and Boga’s shot went into the side netting (28’). Just past the half-hour mark, Kevin Carlos came close to scoring: after a superb chest control and winning his duel in the box, his left-footed strike was pushed away by Lopes (35’).

Nantes had a couple of dangerous chances before half-time: Abline’s shot from the left side of the box was blocked by Oppong (45+1’) and Amian’s volley narrowly missed the target (45+2’). Despite Nice’s clear dominance and numerous chances, the score remained goalless at the break, but Le Gym were firmly in control.

Boga sets Le Gym free

Nice started the second half with the same intensity and quickly found the breakthrough. Before the hour mark, after winning the ball back, Jeremie Boga surged forward from the centre circle on a solo run, drove into the box and finished with a left-footed shot across goal (1-0, 56’).

Nice kept pressing. Boga fired another left-footed effort from outside the box, but it went off target (60’).

Soon after, Franck Haise made two changes: Diop made way for Sanson and Kevin Carlos for Moffi. Almost immediately, Moffi connected with a header from a Bard cross on the left, but Lopes tipped it over (62’). Nice pushed forward again: Clauss’s cross from the right was blocked and the ball fell to Boga, whose header went wide (68’). Moments later, a Sanson goal was ruled out after Moffi, who provided the assist, was flagged offside (69’). In the 75th minute, Haise made two more substitutions: Boga came off for Jansson and Dante was replaced by Gouveia, making his Ligue 1 debut for Nice.

Boudaoui then made way for Louchet (81’). The Rouge et Noir looked for a second goal but couldn’t convert. Following a counter-attack, Moffi missed the target with his header from a Bard cross (84’), and just a minute later, Jansson struck from inside the box, but Lopes held onto it (85’). The score remaining 1-0, sealing the victory for Franck Haise’s side.

Opta stat: Nice have won two of their first four Ligue 1 matches this season (2 losses) — the first time they’ve managed that since 2021/22. (They won 3 in 2022/23, 1 in 2023/24, and 1 in 2024/25.)

Next up: Brest

OGC Nice will travel to Brest next Saturday for Matchday 5 of Ligue 1 at the Stade Francis-Le Blé. Kick-off is at 7pm.