A sad disappointment for the people of Nice, who return from Haute-Savoie with a heavy defeat (4-0) and, more importantly, are no longer in control of their European destiny just before hosting Lyon, who lost at home to PSG, the newly crowned champions of France.
It’s almost like summer sunshine above the Parc des Sports d’Annecy, and right from the start, David Ospina had to perform brilliantly against Bérigaud, clearly showing the intentions of the Evian players to play in Nice’s camp. It was the first warning for the people of Nice, who did not seem to have entered the game yet. As usual, it was Dario Cvitanich, just before the interval, who posed a threat for the Azureans, but his attempt was saved at the last moment by Cambon, even though the ball seemed to have completely crossed the goal line. But after this brief bright spell, Dupraz’s men started again with renewed vigor, and after another attempt by Bérigaud stopped by Ospina, it was ultimately in favor of the second that the next duel turned, after a magnificent control in the area and a shot that left the Nice goalkeeper with no chance (1-0). The lead on the scoreboard was well-deserved for the Haute-Savoie players, who have been relentless in their efforts since the start of the match. It was Digard’s turn to try to level the score, but this time, it was the crossbar that thwarted the Nice captain’s attempt. Sometimes, when it doesn’t want to go your way… Few or no notable events occurred during the last minutes of the first half before another spectacular save by David Ospina saved his team from Rabiu’s beautiful shot in the final seconds before Mr. Buquet sent both teams to the locker room.
At 1-0, the game was still within reach for Nice, who did not appear to be at their best. It was only a matter of time before things fell apart for them in under ten minutes through Rabiu and Khlifa, who in the 48th and 56th minutes hammered the nail into the coffin, outsmarting an impotent David Ospina who could only observe the damage of a somewhat fragile defense (3-0). With a three-goal advantage, the Evian players continued to unfold their game, and Boli was on the verge of scoring, but his header narrowly missed the Nice goal. Nonetheless, Pascal Dupraz’s men scored once more through Khlifa in the final minutes to bring the final score to 4-0. Qualified for the Coupe de la Ligue final and avoiding relegation once again, Evian’s week has been immensely productive, while for Nice, the disappointment was likely exacerbated by Lyon’s defeat against Paris Saint-Germain.
The stage is set for next Saturday at 9 p.m. on Ray Hill to properly welcome Olympique Lyonnais, who will be seeking direct qualification for the Champions League, while Nice will fight for their chance until the end, hoping that Lille and Saint-Etienne will stumble in turn.
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