The OGC Nice logically defeated Evian in the last match of the first half of the season (3-1). It is the third consecutive victory for the Nice team after two wins against Sochaux. Nice ranks 14th in the standings and can go into the holidays with a cushion of 9 points above the first relegation spot.
Everything started quite poorly for Claude Puel’s men in this match. Dominant in play and opportunities in the first half, the Aiglons were still trailing due to a penalty. Mongongu deceived Ospina after a foul by Bodmer in the box. Too clumsy and lacking luck, the Nice team went into the locker room a goal behind Evian. Undeserved yet quite real for the Gym.
In the second half, Nice picked up the pace, appearing more aggressive, stung by the Savoyard goal. Twice, Bauthéac equalized and then gave his team the lead. The match was turned around as was the crowd. Logically, Nice was leading against a Savoyard team that was too defensive to even manage a point. Bosetti finished the job towards the end of the game with a lobbed shot with his right foot from outside the box. As a symbol, he, the local boy, put Nice back on the right track before the break. Long after the match, he remained seated in front of the popular stand, improvising as the capo of the Ultras from Nice. A beautiful image of communion, contrasting with the not-so-distant seven consecutive defeats of the Nice formation. A lesson to remember for Claude Puel’s squad if they aim to reach higher this season. The Ligue 1 championship is open, and a top 10 finish is very quickly reachable, provided they maintain a consistent level until the end. It will also be necessary to rekindle the scoring instinct of Dario Cvitanich, still silent tonight despite the victory. The Argentine striker is a crucial asset for OGC Nice, destined to face much tougher teams than Sochaux or Evian.
Photo credit and more info on www.ogc.nice.com
