To end a hellish month with seven matches, OGC Nice was out of breath and logically fell in the Cรดte d’Azur derby against AS Monaco (2-1).
Shortly before kickoff, the Nice team learns that Youcef Atal has tested positive for coronavirus. Therefore, he is unavailable for this match.
The Nice team, already weakened by Hassane Kamara’s injury, find themselves without their two starting full-backs. Patrick Vieira is then forced to improvise and places Hicham Boudaoui on the right side of the defense. Lotomba will occupy the left wing.
In central defense, we find Bambu, N’Soki and Schneiderlin, who drops back to compensate for Dante’s absence.
In midfield, Thuram and Lees-Melou are lined up to distribute balls to the attacking trio composed of Gouiri, Reine-Adelaรฏde, and Dolberg.
But from the beginning of the match, this new system fails the Nice players, who struggle to connect. The Monaco players take full advantage of Nice’s shortcomings and create numerous chances throughout the first half.
Benitez, the Argentine goalkeeper, saves his teammates multiple times.
However, he can do nothing about a superb corner from right to left. Disasi, the tall Monaco defender, gets the better of Bambu and heads the ball in unstoppably (23rd minute).
The Monaco players hit the bar through Volland and the post via Ben Yedder but fail to extend their lead in this match.
In the second half, the Nice players seem exhausted and do not create any chances.
Worse still, the Nice defenders make several significant errors and put Benitez to the test.
And on a poor clearance by N’Soki intercepted by Sofiane Diop, the young Monaco player goes alone to challenge Benitez and slots the ball between the legs of the Nice goalkeeper (53′).
Vieira then decides to substitute several players. Dolberg, Boudaoui, and Reine-Adelaรฏde are replaced by Claude-Maurice, Rony Lopes, and Maolida. These changes bring freshness to the players, who finally enter the Monaco half.
Lees-Melou, the Nice captain in Dante’s absence, finds himself in the right place to convert a ball pushed out by the Monaco goalkeeper and scores from point-blank range in front of the goal (69′).
Unfortunately, this will be the only dangerous opportunity for Nice during this game. Thus, the derby ends with a Monaco victory of 2 goals to 1.
The international break comes at the perfect time for Nice, allowing them to recharge before starting a new marathon between November and December.
