OGC Nice draws 0-0 against Saint-Etienne after a very discontinuous match marked by two expulsions (Carlos Eduardo and Diomandé). The losing streak continues for the Aiglons who haven’t won at the Allianz Riviera since September 24. The last match of the year 2014 will take place in Lens next Friday (8:30 PM), where three points would be beneficial before the holidays.
Eleven weeks without a home victory is long. A match peppered with innumerable fouls is even longer. OGC Nice wanted to end the year with a gift for their supporters, the 3 points, but to no avail, they must settle for one point. For a home win, patience will be required until January 10 for the reception of Lorient.
In the starting eleven set up by Claude Puel, there are two changes compared to the win in Caen. In central defense, Mathieu Bodmer returns to replace Kévin Gomis, and Valentin Eysseric is preferred over Grégoire Puel on the right flank of the attack. In goal, Simon Pouplin is once again chosen over Mouez Hassen.
Nice gets off to a good start with a shot on target from Eysseric, well saved by Ruffier. Claude Puel’s players control the ball, quickly taking control of the field and making the Stéphanois run. However, the game evens out during the first half, with Saint-Etienne disrupting Nice’s passing game. The first significant chance for the Greens comes in the 34th minute with a beautiful volley from Mollo, deflected into a corner by Pouplin. At the 37th minute, the match takes a turn. Carlos Eduardo breaks away on the left and is fouled by Diomandé, followed by a scramble. The referee gives a second yellow to the Saint-Etienne player, which means a red card. But Lionel Jaffredo doesn’t stop there and also expels Carlos Eduardo. Upon review, the Brazilian attempts to continue his play but steps on Diomandé who is holding him back. The expulsion is quite severe. The first half ends with a burst of speed from Plea, which is insufficient as he’s caught by Florentin Pogba.
“There’s a rather blatant foul on him, he falls onto the opposing player […] it’s clear that he’s not at all trying to hurt him. I don’t see what could justify this expulsion,” explains Claude Puel in the press conference regarding the playmaker’s expulsion from the Gym.
The second half resumes on a pitch that deteriorates over the minutes. Both teams attempt crosses towards the goal, without success, as seen with Eysseric’s shot deflected into a corner at the 60th minute. The 66th minute marks the return of the Gym’s captain, Didier Digard, after more than 6 weeks of absence due to a calf injury. The best chance of the match, up to this point, is for Nice with a free kick taken by Bauthéac deflected into a corner by Van Wolfswinkel, whose ball brushes Ruffier’s post. To see good football, one has to wait until the final ten minutes. Simon Pouplin makes a decisive save after a shot from Monnet-Paquet and repeats it at the 89th minute, with his foot. He saves his team and the draw point. In the very first moments of stoppage time, Gradel breaks into the area, follows up with a shot that smashes against the post. The last thrill for the Allianz Riviera crowd.
“It’s a mixed feeling because at home we want to take three points. This point earned against Saint-Etienne must be improved upon next Friday in Lens. We felt defensively solid with Mathieu’s (Bodmer) return, but we must not forget the work of all the others,” notes Simon Pouplin in the mixed zone.
At the end of this 18th day, Nice sits at 11th place with 22 points, 5 ahead of Bastia, in 18th and the first relegation spot. The last match of the calendar year, Friday at Lens, will allow Nice either to enter the top half of the table or to see the drop zone approach. The Aiglons must replicate their fine performance in Caen last week and offer the club and supporters a lovely holiday season.
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