What a disappointment! OGC Nice faced the Ligue 1 bottom team, Metz, on their home turf last night. It was an opportunity to get a home win after the 0-1 defeat against Montpellier at the beginning of November. But the opposite occurred; instead of erasing that home loss, the Aiglons experienced a similar match with another loss as a result.
Indeed, OGC Nice went through a scenario similar to that against MHSC. In the first half, Christophe Galtier’s men held possession without managing to find gaps in a well-organized and aggressive Metz defense. It was even Metz that had the first chance of the match: De Préville got ahead of Dante on the right side and crossed to Niane, who, unmarked, could not place his header on target!
The Aiglons tried to fight back but couldn’t break through Metz’s five-man defense. Several long balls were sent deep, but the three central defenders from Lorraine were always superior.
The Garnets managed to contain the Azurins and attempted counter-attacks. And it paid off as Fabien Centonze opened the scoring after a quick play. Served on the right side, the full-back eliminated Bard before launching De Préville, who returned the favor with a low cross. Centonze wasted no time and beat Benitez with a right-footed shot! (31st minute). 0-1 for Metz.
The Nice team tried to respond and came close to earning a penalty in the 39th minute. Thomas Delaine tackled Delort in the box, but Mr. Letexier remained unfazed. The Aiglons wanted to go to the locker room with a score of 1-1. This time it was Gouiri, the club’s top scorer, who managed to retrieve a ball from the defense, shooting, but it was deflected by Bronn (43rd minute).
In added time, Christophe Galtier and his men believed in an equalizer with a header from Delort, served by an excellent cross from Stengs. However, Alexandre Oukidja, the Algerian goalkeeper, produced a superb save (45+1). It was the Aiglons’ first shot on target in the match, and it wasn’t enough to level the score. A well-deserved 0-1 at halftime as Nice struggled against a nearly perfect Metz organization, conceding on the first counter-attack initiated and concluded by Centonze.
The Nice players returned in the second half with the desire to improve on the first half. From the very first seconds, Stengs provoked a corner, which ultimately came to nothing (46th minute). Moments later, another penalty was considered for the Aiglons, but after video review, the referee awarded a free-kick instead.
Ultimately, the first half scenario repeated itself. Nice had the ball but couldn’t penetrate the defense, while Metz attempted counters with De Préville. In the 56th minute, he perfectly served Niane, who was close to scoring a second goal for Metz, but Todibo thwarted him.
No constructed play led to a chance, requiring Rosario to take a chance to see some danger again for Oukidja’s goal (63rd minute).
Time passed, with still no breaches in the Metz defense. The Nice players began to despair and become agitated. Schneiderlin, who came on as a substitute, almost equalized but… he was set up by Gouiri in the area in the 78th minute, managing to outpace his opponent before shooting with his left foot. His attempt went narrowly wide!
In the last 10 minutes of the match, the Gym tried using crosses, but regardless of the target, they always ended up off goal.
The final chance of the match was again for Delort, the Algerian received a long ball from Dante and headed it just wide of the post.
It was Nice’s last chance, and the match ended with a 0-1 score. A deserved defeat for Nice, which lacked solutions and energy.
Like against Montpellier, they couldn’t find solutions against an aggressive and compact defense. Nonetheless, several chances could have ended up in the back of the net, but once again, the Aiglons struggled with finishing, with only 4 out of 18 shots on target. FC Metz had the scenario they dreamed of and was clinical in front of Benitez’s goal.
This match is not to be forgotten by the Azurins as it represents the weaknesses seen in recent games. They’ll need to do much better against PSG at the Parc des Princes.
