FC Nantes–OGC Nice (2-1): A First Half That Proves Costly

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Totally outplayed for over an hour, the team from Nice suffered a 2-1 defeat at Nantes despite a good second half. Passive and physically lacking, the Aiglons showed some weaknesses before hosting Lille and then traveling to Monaco. As of this Saturday night, OGC Nice is 15th in Ligue 1.


nantesnice2.jpg The challenge of earning points away from home seemed difficult and indeed proved to be complicated. Disturbing FC Nantes in their Beaujoire stronghold was a daunting task before the match, and it remains so after this second away defeat for the team from Nice. The coach of the Gym, Claude Puel, had slightly altered his team with a 3-6-1 formation featuring Valentin Eysseric in support of Alexy Bosetti.

Right from the start of the match, the team from Nice lost the midfield battle to a diligent and combative Nantes side. Physically outmatched, Hult and Carlos Eduardo struggled against the giants Hansen, Djilobodji, and Vizcarrondo. Logically, FC Nantes opened the scoring from a corner in the 10th minute. Nantes defender Papy Djilobodji jumped higher than everyone else, but the ball deflected off both Bodmer and Amavi and accidentally tricked their own goalkeeper.

It was a one-sided first half as Gakpé saw his shot deflected for a corner by Mendy, and then Hassen made an exceptional save, using his foot like a handball goalkeeper, from a Vizcarrondo header (25th minute). Just before halftime, Itay Shechter stole the ball from Romain Genevois and then capitalized on Mathieu Bodmer’s incredible passiveness to beat Mouez Hassen. The lead was doubled, and when Clément Turpin, the match referee, blew the halftime whistle, OGC Nice had yet to take a shot on target…

At the break, Claude Puel changed his system and his players. The 3-6-1 made way for a more classic 4-3-3. Carlos Eduardo and Souleymane Diawara were replaced by Eric Bauthéac and Alassane Pléa. Although the system changed, the domination remained yellow and green, yet fortunately Hassen saved his team twice (48th and 52nd minutes). In the 56th minute, OGC Nice earned their first corner, and in the 62nd minute, Eysseric crossed the ball, Bammou deflected it with his hand. The referee, well positioned, did not blow for the evident penalty, marking the awakening of the Nice team.

The Aiglons gradually reclaimed the midfield and created chances. In the 69th minute, Nice leveled the score thanks to Jordan Amavi, who cut off Eric Bauthéac’s corner at the near post. In the dying moments of the match, Bosetti came close to equalizing, but the ball was cleared by the Nantes defense.

Claude Puel’s men lost 2-1 and can harbor regrets after a better-controlled second half. This Saturday night, OGC Nice sits in 15th place and will host Lille at 7 PM on Wednesday, aiming for a much-needed second consecutive win for the club.

“I am disappointed by the team’s no-show for more than an hour. We lacked impact, got overwhelmed, and our response was too late. The mistakes in the first half are unforgiving; we will need to deliver a full match from the first to the last minute to earn points,” declared defender Romain Genevois on BeInSports’ microphone.

Photo credits and more information at www.ogcnice.com

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