OGC Nice lost 1-0 to AJ Auxerre on Saturday at the Stade de l’Abbé-Deschamps, on Matchday 4 of Ligue 1.

In Burgundy, Olivier Pantaloni’s men showed glimpses of their best. Dominating possession (68% to 32%), they created a significant number of chances. However, Nice lacked clinical finishing and saw their efforts go unrewarded. In fact, they conceded just a few minutes after their best spell of the game.

Lining up in their usual 3-4-3 formation, with Gauthier Hein and Mohammed Amoura starting in support of Elye Wahi, the Rouge et Noir tested Mamadou Diop, who proved unbeatable in the Auxerre goal on Saturday. Active and willing but lacking in his finishing, Wahi first tested the opposition goalkeeper with a powerful strike from the edge of the box (15'). Jonathan Clauss, who came very close to opening the scoring, followed suit a few minutes later but was met with the same fate (22'). Shots from Axel Witsel (19') and Djibril Coulibaly (59') were not enough to beat the Mauritanian international, who produced two magnificent saves late in the match to keep Nice out: the first from a cross-shot from Wahi (78'), the second from a cleverly struck free-kick by Clauss from 35 metres, the bounce not enough to beat the keeper (83').

LE GYM CRACK

In control of the game in the second half, Le Gym nevertheless left themselves vulnerable to the opposition’s counter-attacks, as against Paris FC (Matchday 2, 3–0) and Le Mans, finding themselves in trouble against the pace of AJA’s forwards. Under constant pressure, Yehvann Diouf rose to the occasion, denying Danny Namaso (17'), Rémy Labeau-Lascary (39') and Cameron Archer (49'). Alert on his line and when coming out his goal, the Côte d’Azur goalkeeper worked tirelessly but was unable to prevent the opening goal in the final quarter of an hour. After receiving a perfect through ball from Christ Makosso, Archer found himself one-on-one with Diouf and beat him from a tight angle (74’, 1–0).

Earlier, Nice had come within a few centimetres of opening the scoring, with Gauthier Hein’s curling shot grazing Mamadou Diop’s right-hand post (69'), a sign of the lack of luck on the night and what would prove to be a cruel defeat. Les Aiglons sit in 18th place with two points. They now turn their attention to the visit of Lille, set for Sunday 20 September at the Allianz Riviera (5:15pm).

Hugo Rondet