Ligue 1: OGC Nice confirms against Strasbourg!

Victorious over RCSA (2-1), this Sunday, OGC Nice secured a second consecutive home victory after a more than solid performance. With these three points, the Eagles regained much-needed breathing room and entered the Ligue 1 top 10.

OGC Nice is finally back! Three weeks after their first victory of the season against Lille (2-1) – an extended international break notwithstanding – the Gym returned to the Allianz Riviera pitch with a single objective: to confirm the positive momentum and positives points seen in their victory over the Dogues. A second consecutive red and black victory would allow the Eagles to break into the Ligue 1 top 10 for the first time since the start of the 2026/2027 season. This fixture against Strasbourg took on a whole different significance.

For this match against RCSA, Olivier Pantaloni chose, once again, continuity. The same winning eleven from the Lille match was fielded this afternoon. The offensive play was still entrusted to the duo Mohammed Amoura – Elye Wahi, with the support of Gauthier Hein behind the two Eagles.

OGC Nice dominates, but gets scared

The kick-off at the Allianz Riviera couldn’t be missed. Less than two minutes into the match and Mohammed Amoura perfectly collected a cross from Jonathan Clauss at the far post. Except that Elye Wahi – who had nearly collected the ball in the six-yard box just before – was flagged for offside. Although the Ivorian international hadn’t touched the ball, his movement constituted action in this situation. A few minutes later, the number eleven of the Eagles came just centimetres away from converting another cross-shot from his right flank.

The very high positioning of Strasbourg’s defensive block posed many problems for Nice’s attacks. The example: this new goal disallowed for OGC Nice after an offside position by Mohammed Amoura. Starting too early on a magnificent through ball from Gauthier Hein, the Gym’s goalscorer had then set up Elye Wahi, who only had to finish. The Eagles dominated, but were not (yet) rewarded! On the downside, Olivier Pantaloni lost Djibril Coulibaly in this first half. Injured muscularly, the midfielder gave way to Hicham Boudaoui.

And inevitably when you don’t punish, you end up regretting it. That was the case this afternoon for OGC Nice. In this end of the first half, Axel Wissem’s teammates had eased off. Strasbourg took advantage to score (0-1, Essugo 40′). A harsh blow for the Eagles who had the opportunity to pull away in this match. After forty-five such fine opening minutes, it couldn’t end there. The Gym pushed and got the equalizer before heading to the dressing room (1-1, 45+3′). The unfortunate Demba Diop sent Gauthier Hein’s cross into his own net.

The beginning of a positive run for the Gym

After the break, OGC Nice’s ambitions remain unchanged: Olivier Pantaloni’s men continued to apply pressure and play quality football. It took an extraordinary double save by Jorgensen plus a clearance by an Alsatian defender on the line to prevent the Eagles from taking the lead in this second of the second half. Out wide, Elye Wahi failed to hit the Alsatian goal, his attempt going over the crossbar. As time went on, the situation looked like a serious puzzle for the Gym.

The solution was called Jonathan Clauss (2-1, 81′). In all the good moments this afternoon, the winger sent a missile under the crossbar to give his side a more than deserved advantage. Nice was finally ahead! Authors of a complete performance throughout, and despite two disallowed goals, Junior Mandza’s teammates secured a second victory this season, the second consecutive one at home. For the first time in the season, Nice enters the top 10 of the championship. All systems are go on the Côte d’Azur!

Next match next weekend, Sunday October 18th, for OGC Nice. The Eagles will travel to Lyon to close out Matchday 7 of Ligue 1. Kick-off at 20:45.