OGC Nice beat AS Saint-Étienne 2–1 on Sunday in the Round of 64 of the Coupe de France. Zoumana Diallo and Morgan Sanson found the net for Le Gym.

The long wait is over. Chasing their first win since 29 October and their Ligue 1 victory over Lille (Matchday 10, 2–0), Le Gym took advantage of the Coupe de France to finally get back on track. Up against a Saint-Étienne side sitting second in Ligue 2 and charging full speed towards promotion, Franck Haise’s men got the job done at the Allianz Riviera.

Set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Maxime Dupé returning in goal and Zoumana Diallo making his first appearance for the senior team, the team was set on its way by the club’s young 20-year-old talent. Signed from Strasbourg last summer, the powerful and pacey striker showed no nerves as he converted Jonathan Clauss’s fine delivery, the full-back having whipped in a quality cross from the right side of the box after a superbly worked team move (1–0, 11’). Making his first start, and only his second appearance in the Nice squad, Diallo threw himself at the ball at the near post like a pure centre-forward.

Buoyed by this early opener, the Red and Blacks continued to look dangerous. Playing on the counter-attack, they allowed the ball to an opponent more comfortable in possession but vulnerable in behind. That approach nearly paid off for Tanguy Ndombele, who found himself alone in the box after a poor clearance from Gautier Larsonneur following another well-weighted cross from Clauss. Unfortunately for Le Gym, the French midfielder hesitated too long before shooting, and his effort was eventually deflected just wide of the Saint-Étienne post (20’).

SANSON OPENS HIS ACCOUNT

The end of the first half was generally controlled by Eirik Horneland’s men, who threatened through Augustine Boakye (31’) and then Paul Eymard (40’). Each time, however, the very alert Dupé stepped in without hesitation. The Azurean goalkeeper could do nothing a few minutes later when Zuriko Davitashvili stepped up from the penalty spot to convert the spot-kick won by Lucas Stassin (1–1, 45’).

With both teams increasingly open as the minutes passed and eager to avoid a penalty shootout, the match came to life after the break. Morgan Sanson carved out a huge chance by taking full advantage of a high turnover from Cho, but his first-time effort was tipped away by Larsonneur, preventing Sofiane Diop from tapping into an empty net at the far post (51’).

It was only a matter of time for Sanson. His work rate and influence were finally rewarded at the start of the final quarter of an hour. Capitalising on another burst down the right from Cho, the former Aston Villa player found himself on the end of a poorly cleared ball by Larsonneur and finished with a half-volley to score his first goal of the season (2–1, 73’).

LE GYM HELD FIRM

Far more clinical than in their recent outings, Les Aiglons then stood firm against Saint-Étienne’s pressure. Zuriko Davitashvili’s shot failed to hit the target (68’), as did Mahmoud Jaber’s effort (76’). The final big scare of the afternoon at the Allianz Riviera came from Nadir El Jamali, whose powerful strike from the right side of the box skimmed the outside of Dupé’s left post (89’). After Lucas Stassin’s last off-target attempt (90+4), Melvin Bard and his teammates could finally breathe again: this time, victory would not slip away.

Having qualified for the Round of 32 of France’s oldest competition, the Red and Blacks rounded off their 2025 on a high note. They will not have to wait long to discover their next opponent, with the draw taking place on Sunday evening from 7:45pm. Now it’s time for the Christmas break: Le Gym will return to action on 3 January in Ligue 1 against Strasbourg.