The Aiglons were no match for a vastly superior Monaco side. Nice suffers a significant blow in the title race but stays in the running.
Everything had started so well. As usual, Nice supporters invaded the Louis-II to make the derby feel like an extra home game. The traditional scooter ride, the atmosphere… Everything was there. But the Monégasque armada was far too strong.
Led by the Falcao-Germain duo, supplemented by a high-flying Bernardo Silva, the players from the Rock struggled to get into their game. In contrast, the Nice team, positioned in an unprecedented and surprising 3-4-3, took control of the ball and showed determination. The beginning of the match was lively and slightly tense, as evidenced by Mika Seri’s yellow card before the quarter-hour mark (the only one on Nice’s side during the match!).
A real derby that gradually intensified. On a free-kick, Cardinale forcefully stood out against Glik (15th), and afterward, the Gym thought they opened the score, but Plea’s goal was flagged offside (18th). Both teams went blow for blow. Evidence of this was Silva’s shot being repelled by Cardinale (30th), followed by a response from Eysseric (33rd), which went just wide of the post.
The Gym went back to the locker room without conceding a goal, almost an achievement against Europe’s best attack. But Nice eventually gave way, and the executioner was none other than Valère Germain, on loan at Gym last season. On a run by Benjamin Mendy, the former Marseille player crossed and found Germain’s head, forgotten by Sarr, who didn’t need much persuasion (47th). The former Nice player even had the decency not to celebrate his goal, a gesture that earned him an ovation from the Nice public upon his exit despite the heavy defeat.
After that, the Gym collapsed again. Just ten minutes after the first goal, Benjamin Mendy once again escaped down the left. This time, his cross was picked up by Falcao (59th). An hour into the game, Nice was no longer in the race. The Aiglons didn’t respond and were too imprecise, despite Belhanda replacing Sarr (and switching to a more offensive system).
Despite a few chances, the Gym couldn’t get back into the match. And Monaco, ruthless, sealed the game ten minutes from the end when Falcao anticipated a backward pass from Lemar. At the penalty spot, the Colombian left Cardinale no chance and scored a double (81st). A post from Eysseric at the end of the match offered some thrills to the numerous attendees (rare at Louis-II!), but it didn’t change the outcome.
In the standings, the Aiglons allowed their day’s opponent to take the lead (52 points compared to 49) and even saw PSG, who won in Dijon, catch up to them. They must be strong and recover by Wednesday, with the reception of Saint-Étienne, another tough opponent. And while the title seems destined for Monaco, OGC Nice should still be in the mix this season’s end.
The Stat: PSG, the Last Executioner
The last time the Gym lost by a three-goal margin dates back to April 2, 2016, during a trip to Paris. That day, the Aiglons lost 4-1.
As for the last time the Gym lost 3-0, it was on December 4, 2015, when they hosted… Paris, at the Allianz Riviera.
Lucien Favre’s Reaction
“A 0-0 halftime is logical. They had a big chance at 12m from the goal due to a ball loss on our part. We tried to play well, use the sides but didn’t have enough momentum. We conceded a perfectly avoidable goal. It came too quickly. We reacted well, but we may have sometimes forgotten that we needed to return and defend; we gave them too much space! The second goal is also avoidable. At 0-2 against Monaco, it’s tough. We should have been more patient at 0-1. I would have liked us not to put ourselves in so much danger because, in the game, we could disrupt them. Even in the second half, we made good moves, but these goals are hard to digest. We conceded two goals under the same conditions, on powerful back crosses in front of the goal. With more concentration and patience, we could have achieved a positive result.”
Dante’s Reaction
“In the end, it’s a lot. Throughout all 90 minutes, we didn’t deserve that 3-0. However, we must self-criticize to improve moving forward. We can always do better, but we weren’t catastrophic. Monaco was very realistic. They had three chances and scored three, that’s all. We need to learn to be more realistic and focused until the end, in tactical, offensive, and defensive aspects. Any defeat hurts, but we already have a vengeful spirit for Wednesday. We’ll lift our heads; we still have 15 matchdays to go. And we won’t give up, that’s for sure!”
Paul Baysse’s Reaction
“We are really disappointed. We came for something other than this result. The score is hefty and hard to swallow. We had a good first half, and in the second, we conceded three similar goals. We will need to analyze the match with a clear head and recover well. We know we are capable of doing better. But the season didn’t end tonight. There are still 45 points left to take.”
