OGC Nice were beaten 1–5 on Friday in the opening clash of Matchday 13 of Ligue 1. Mohamed-Ali Cho scored Les Aiglons’ only goal of the evening.

While the atmosphere was festive as the Populaire Sud supporters celebrated their 40th anniversary, Nice endured a difficult evening. Punished by Marseille’s clinical finishing, Franck Haise’s men suffered their heaviest defeat of the season (1–5).

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang opened the scoring early on, diving at the back post to turn Benjamin Pavard’s flick into the back of the net (0–1, 11’). The Olympians doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark through Mason Greenwood, whose shot was inadvertently deflected by Melvin Bard at the edge of the box (0–2, 33’). It was ruthless efficiency from Marseille, in stark contrast to the Aiglons, who were combative and able to create several chances thanks to a well-coordinated high press. But Terem Moffi was denied on two occasions by Marseille goalkeeper Jeffrey De Lange, who was in inspired form tonight (24’, 42’). The second chance was Nice’s best of the first half, as the Super Eagle’s acrobatic flick was spectacular.

The Marseille keeper once again frustrated Moffi at the start of the second half, getting back quickly to block a point-blank effort (49’). It proved a turning point for a Nice side that hadn’t given up but was punished shortly afterward by another moment of class from Greenwood (0–3, 53’). Timothy Weah followed suit a few minutes later with a crisp strike from the right side of the box (0–4, 58’).

PORTO THEN LORIENT UP NEXT

Though Nice believed they had sparked a comeback through Mohamed-Ali Cho, who scored with a fine header from a perfect Sofiane Diop cross (1–4, 63’), OM quickly punished more defensive lapses, with Igor Paixão adding a fifth on the counter-attack (1–5, 74’).

Melvin Bard and his teammates were stunned as they suffered their second home defeat of the Ligue 1 season. Still sitting ninth in the table as they await the rest of the results from the weekend, they will look to bounce back in the Europa League away at FC Porto on Thursday (6.45pm). In the league, they travel to Lorient on Sunday 30 November (5.15pm).

Hugo Rondet