The years go by, and it’s the same story for OGC Nice. Fourth trip to Evian and the fourth defeat without scoring a goal. The Eagles lost 1-0 against ETG after a very muddled match and a completely failed second half.
The Gym had their positive streak in September (victories against Lille and Monaco). Now a negative streak with two consecutive defeats against Lyon (1-3) and Evian (1-0), not to mention the elimination against Metz in the League Cup (3-3, 2-3 on penalties). As a result, the Eagles are yo-yoing in the middle of the standings, currently in 11th place awaiting the last matches of the 13th day. The full infirmary did not help Claude Puel’s men. The absences of Bodmer, Digard, Hult, and G. Puel weigh on the Nice squad, but that cannot be an excuse after yesterday evening’s performance.
Facing the bottom team but nonetheless a bogey team, Claude Puel set up a 4-1-4-1 with Eysseric alongside Carlos Eduardo and Gomis rather than Diawara in the axis. The start of the match was complicated, with Evian creating the first chances through Wass and Bruno. Only Nampalys Mendy stood out in the middle. It took until the 18th minute to see the first real Nice chance, a shot on target by Alassane Plea, deflected by Hansen, the Savoyard goalkeeper. Gradually, the Gym regained control of the midfield and approached the Evian goal. Plea was the most dangerous (23rd and 24th). Evian could have taken the lead in the 27th, but Sougou’s header brushed the right post. The lack of efficiency was glaring on the Nice side, with Carlos Eduardo hindering Plea, and then another header by the Brazilian over the bar. To conclude the first half, a superb intervention by Genevois in Sougou’s path was needed to go into the break at 0-0.
Nice seemed to start the second half better. After a cross from Bauthéac, defender Juelsgaard put the ball out for a corner… with his hand. Monsieur Rainville didn’t flinch, even though a penalty could have been awarded. Then, nothing more for Claude Puel’s players for long minutes, except for turnovers and missed passes. Mouez Hassen saved his team in the 70th with a magnificent stop at Wass’s feet, who wanted to dribble. Shortly after, Neal Maupay, who had replaced Cvitanich, stood out, but his header went over the bar. In the 76th minute, Nampalys Mendy committed a foul near the penalty area. A bad idea, as the home team’s gunner, Daniel Wass, took the free kick and scored. Mouez Hassen, who didn’t see the ball coming, was beaten. Nice didn’t come back and even avoided a 2-0, as Benezet missed the target.
“We had a few chances in the first half, but we weren’t realistic. It cost us dearly. We knew Wass’s kicking ability. We were warned. It’s another avoidable goal,” Eric Bauthéac regretted at the microphone of BeInSports after the match.
The Nice team now has a small break due to the international break. The next match will be on Saturday, November 22, against Reims, ranked 13th, an opportunity to react and show that this group is worth more than the mid-table of Ligue 1.
Photo credit and more information on www.ogcnice.com
