After five games without a win, OGC Nice returns to victory by defeating Angers (2-1) at the Allianz Riviera. A well-controlled match despite a small scare in the second half. The Aiglons are back in the race for Europe.
OGC Nice had not won in over a month. Five matches without victory, a streak that was beginning to weigh heavily. Against Angers, the people of Nice had no choice but to win to stay in the race for Europe. It is mission accomplished, in a match rather well managed despite a brief scare in the second half.
Deprived of their captain Dante, injured in the knee, the Aiglons presented a reshaped defense. Youssouf Ndayishimiye took the armband, surrounded by Ali Abdi and Mohamed Abdelmonem. In midfield, Pablo Rosario was preferred to Morgan Sanson, while Badredine Bouanani replaced Evan Guessand in attack.
From the first minutes, the Niçois put their foot on the ball. A clear territorial dominance, but barren. It takes ten minutes to see the first real threat. Bouanani forces Yahia Fofana to make a great save, followed by another save by the Angers goalkeeper on a shot from Abdi. The tone is set.
However, the Nice domination also leaves spaces. Angers provides some forays, including one on a poorly negotiated corner by Yassine Belkhdim. No consequences, but enough to remind Nice that a lapse could be costly.
The solution eventually comes in the 37th minute. Bouanani serves Rosario in the six-yard box. The Dutchman heads home efficiently and opens the score. (1-0) for the Aiglons, who head to the locker room ahead. Angers, too timid, didn’t really trouble Marcin Bulka in this first half.
Nice gives themselves a scare
The start of the second half is similar to the first. Nice resumes with the same intentions. And it pays off quickly. In the 48th minute, Abdi doubles the lead following a cross from Jonathan Clauss. His diving header, somewhat lucky after bouncing off the post, ends up in the net. The cushion is secured.
But the Angers response is immediate. Three minutes later, Belkhdim seizes a poor clearance from Ndayishimiye to attempt his luck. His shot surprises Bulka and reignites the game (2-1). The young midfielder scores his first goal in Ligue 1.
The Angers goal does not change the Niçois’ approach. The team retains possession and pushes the SCO back. The visitors attempt some breakthroughs but seem physically spent. The most clear opportunities remain Nice’s. From a corner, Abdelli saves Angers on the line. The Niçois appeal for handball, to no avail.
In the last minutes, Angers presses a little more without managing to trouble Bulka. The match ends without any new clear opportunities. The score remains fixed at (2-1).
A victory that relaunches Nice in the race for Europe
This win allows the Gym to regain the 6th place in the standings with 51 points, ahead of Strasbourg on goal difference. With three points behind the podium, everything is still possible in the final stretch of the championship.
This success also helped to restore some confidence to a group that had been struggling in recent weeks. Rosario and Abdi were crucial tonight, as was Bouanani, very active and justifying his starting position. At the back, despite the absence of Dante, the defense held firm despite a few scares unfortunately common at the Gym.
Franck Haise now has a few days to prepare for the next encounter. It will be a very different challenge at the Parc des Princes, against the PSG. A tougher test, but approached under better conditions thanks to this victory.