Despite a challenging end to the match, OGC Nice triumphed over Marseille in the 13th round of Ligue 1 (0-1). The Eagles ended a series of 3 winless matches, secured their sixth victory of the season, and climbed to sixth place in the league.
The reign of discipline. That’s what the first quarter-hour of the Azurean derby looked like. Despite two consecutive victories, OM is still searching for confidence and assurance. Especially as 4 key players are absent. Cabella, suspended, is missing behind Batshuayi, and Alessandrini is injured. Other suspensions include N’koulou and especially Diarra, the two main guarantors of the Phocaeans’ stability and transitional play.
It is precisely in the sectors of these two men that Marseille faltered at the Nice opening goal. Wallyson was found too easily by Seri in the center. The Brazilian took advantage of this to slip a perfect through ball to Germain, who took off between an ill-aligned Sparagna-Rekik defense. Behind them, Germain accelerated and perfectly angled his shot at the edge of the box to deceive Mandanda 1-0 (16th).
Solid, this Gym!
Trailing at home, Marseille couldn’t find the keys to level the match. The balls were very well distributed on the Nice side, and the midfield pressure significantly hindered the hosts. Ultimately, it was only through set-pieces that OM could appear dangerous, but Barrada didn’t always take them well. The second half was certainly Marseillaise but without any real opportunities. This was due to a compact Nice, supported by a very assured Maxime Le Marchand.
On the counter, the Eagles even showcased their strength, notably thanks to Hatem Ben Arfa, who was called up to the national team and delivered a stellar performance at the Velodrome. Another Nice player stood out: Mika Seri. As always, the Ivorian midfielder impressed with his activity. This time he added a superb free-kick, saved by Mandanda in the 79th minute. Regardless, Nice returned to victory. As usual, after victorious trips, the fans warmly celebrated the team’s return.
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