After a strong team effort, OGC Nice secured a draw on Saturday evening away at Lille (0-0) and now sit five points clear of the relegation play-off spot, held by Auxerre.

Some points are worth more than others. Whilst the point earned last week against Le Havre (M29, 1–1) left the Aiglons with a bitter taste, the one gained at Pierre Mauroy on Saturday will likely be more welcome. Firstly, because of LOSC’s form. They have quite simply been the best team in Ligue 1 for the past two months. In the race for the Champions League, they have been on a roll since the start of spring and were on a nine-match unbeaten run going into Saturday’s fixture. Secondly, because Claude Puel’s men put in a complete team performance: solid in defence, tactically disciplined and incisive on the counter-attack. They did not steal their point in Lille, quite the opposite in fact.

A HARD-WORKING AND COMMITTED MIDFIELD...

Without Hicham Boudaoui and Morgan Sanson, who were suspended, as well as Dante, Charles Vanhoutte and Youssouf Ndayishimiye (all injured) and long-term absentees Mohamed Abdelmonem and Moïse Bombito, the Aiglons travelled north without many players. Starting for the first time in Ligue 1 since 17 January for the former and 1 February for the latter, Tanguy Ndombele and Salis Abdul Samed stepped up perfectly in midfield, setting an example to their teammates with their technical precision and high work rate.

Although a difficult start was expected, the Rouge & Noir made a strong impression in the opening minutes. Whilst Lille did create the first chance – a long-range shot from Romain Perraud tipped away by Yehvann Diouf (8') – the visitors responded swiftly, with Elye Wahi finding the back of the net. At the end of a superb team move that started with the Senegalese goalkeeper, the Côte d’Azur striker converted Mohamed-Ali Cho’s well-placed pass into a goal... only to be disappointed when the referee ultimately flagged for a tight offside (12').

... AN IMPENETRABLE DEFENCE AND GOALKEEPER

Dominant in the air and alert at the back, the central defensive trio of Antoine Mendy, Juma Bah and Kojo Peprah Oppong shut down the Dogues’ attack, preventing the dangerous Matías Fernández-Pardo from getting into his stride. In step with his teammates, Diouf also proved solid in preventing the young attacker (21) from finding the net from close range following a cross from Perraud (38'). But as Claude Puel had anticipated, LOSC turned up the intensity after the break. Le Gym got off lightly when the post came to the rescue of their goalkeeper following a powerful header from Chancel Mbemba, before Hákon Haraldsson failed to hit the target (53').

The turning point of the match could have come just after the hour mark, when Bastien Dechepy pointed to the penalty spot following an alleged foul by Antoine Mendy on Romain Perraud in the Nice penalty area after an initial contentious challenge between Juma Bah and Benjamin André (69'). But after reviewing the footage via VAR, the referee reversed his decision, keeping Les Aiglons in the game. Understandably tired after their exertions, the visitors sat back in the closing stages, enduring a Lille onslaught defended by an unshakeable back line, epitomised by Diouf’s incredible aerial presence, who kept his cool to catch a cross from Thomas Meunier with one hand in the dying moments of stoppage time (90’+5).

With courage, the Aiglons secured an important point in the battle to avoid relegation. Coach Puel's side remain provisionally 15th in the table, five points clear of the relegation play-off spot, with Auxerre travelling to Monaco this Sunday. Now, it’s time for a big week, with a Coupe de France semi-final to play in Strasbourg on Wednesday (9pm) before a trip to Marseille on Sunday (8:45pm).

Hugo Rondet