This Sunday, OGC Nice faced Olympique de Marseille in a heated derby for the last match of the 31st day of Ligue 1. After a very defensive performance, Nice secured a draw thanks to a new goal from Wahi (1-1). A point that will count in the race for survival for the Eagles.
Because an OM – OGC Nice is never a match like any other, everything was in place this Sunday evening at the Orange Vélodrome for a heated derby. And to add even more pressure, both teams were obliged to gain points, with defeat forbidden on both sides in this clash. Olympique de Marseille is still in the running for a Champions League qualification but remains on some disappointing recent performances. On the other hand, after a great week marked by Nice’s qualification for the French Cup final, the Eagles needed to switch to their “survival mission”. Tonight, Claude Puel’s players had the opportunity to make the big move of the day in the lower part of the Ligue 1 standings. To achieve that, they had to win on the pitch of their Marseille rival.
Waiting is not an option for OGC Nice, and yet it was Marseille who started the match the best. At home, the Phoceans put pressure from the start. Less than five minutes on the clock and Yehvann Diouf is already forced into action. On his line, the red and black goalkeeper pushed away a fine header from Vermeeren. Nice has been warned! Pinned in their territory from the kickoff, Mohamed-Ali Cho’s teammates struggled and couldn’t get their heads above water. Very quickly, the scenario of the match resembled Nice’s last meeting on Strasbourg’s field: a Nice very deep in its territory with an opponent dominating the debates outrageously. The Eagles tried to exist on their rare counter-attack opportunities, but once again, Wahi’s teammates lacked precision and technique to turn these situations into real chances.
OGC Nice dominated
The team wasn’t in control of their match, forcing Claude Puel to review his plans. Upon returning from the locker room, the Eagles’ coach altered his midfield, replaced his captain, Morgan Sanson, with more creativity by bringing in Sofiane Diop. Puel aimed for ambition and didn’t seem satisfied with a draw. The first opportunity of this second half, however, remained Marseille’s. In his goal, Diouf – beaten on the attempt – was relieved to see Weah’s header go past his goal. Nice’s reaction was still pending. It was then Juma Bah‘s turn to support his keeper before Nnadi. Even though Nice didn’t concede a goal, the azurean ordeal continued.
In a match that started to build up, Hicham Boudaoui and his teammates began to find some situations in front of the opponent’s goal. But neither Wahi nor Cho – beaten by a very good outing from Rulli – managed to punish the rival in this suspense-filled derby. Logically, OM finally broke through the black and red fortress (1-0, 65’). On a good cross from Nnadi, Hojbjerg took advantage of much too lax marking from Clauss to adjust Diouf with a fine header. In quick succession, Kaïl Boudache – having just come on – almost missed the unmissable. After a poor outing from Rulli, the young Eagle saw the open goal ahead of him. But his header eventually drifted wide of the target. What an opportunity to come back for Nice!
An end of the match under high tension
The last minutes of the game took another turn when Mr. Delajod awarded a penalty to OGC Nice after a stomping from Mmadi on Clauss in the Marseille area. In situations like this, Wahi doesn’t succumb to the pressure (1-1, 87’). With a sublime panenka, the Eagles’ scorer brought the team back to a tie, plunging the end of this derby into uncertainty. Struggling, Nice found the resources to come back in this match. After this late equalizer, Marseille pushed, but the Niçois gave up almost nothing. Claude Puel’s men didn’t want to let go of this crucial point in the race for survival. Now five points separated the Gym from AJ Auxerre, the current relegation playoff team. With three matches left in the championship, Nice’s survival is getting closer, but it’s not yet fully secured.
OGC Nice won’t have much time to reflect, with a new Ligue 1 match scheduled for the next weekend, on Saturday, May 2nd. The Eagles will host RC Lens – as part of the 32nd day of L1 – in what will already look like a final before the time, three weeks before the match between the two teams at the Stade de France. The kick-off will be given at 9:05 PM at the Allianz Riviera.
