Quickly falling behind against Bordeaux, OGC Nice responded in a thunderous manner. Driven by its traditional attacking zeal, Claude Puel’s team managed to take the lead before halftime. Not content with the 2-1 scoreline, the Gym then delivered a masterclass, scoring four times in the second half.
Maurice-Belay on the left side to Crivelli, who slips it to Plasil, calmly adjusting to Hassen… The sixth minute of play gives no hint that Nice will go on a rampage at home. Especially since the start of the match is sluggish. The only chance in the first quarter-hour, an intrusion by Le Bihan in the box is interrupted by a contentious contact with Pablo. The referee does not flinch.
Just before the quarter-hour mark, Whabi Khazri, this time on the Girondins’ side, also demands a penalty after a contact with Hassen. Again, the penalty spot is not pointed to. In slow motion, the Bordeaux player really looks like he’s diving, surprising since he has a one-on-one to negotiate. The beginning of the end for the Girondins. The Gym heeds the warning and gets battle-ready. In the 17th minute, Jérémy Pied delivers a superb cross to the far post for Le Bihan. The powerful header from the Normandy player goes wide.
About ten minutes later, Valère Germain creates a new opportunity. Perfectly launched into space by Koziello, the striker, on loan from Monaco, is blocked by Carasso. The Bordeaux goalkeeper then performs one of his last saves of the match. It’s the 33rd minute when Germain finally equalizes. Jérémy Pied, once again very convincing down the right flank, delivers a perfect cross to the near post, which Valère Germain is happy to divert. His angled header is textbook. The duel negotiated by Pablo is much less so.
A minute that changes everything
Bordeaux’s reaction to the equalizer is tepid. The Gym has now moved its block very high, and confidence has returned thanks to Germain. Three minutes before the break, Nice’s intentions are rewarded again. From nearly thirty meters out, Hatem Ben Arfa unleashes an extremely heavy, swerving shot that Carasso can only parry. Le Bihan follows up and pushes the ball into the net to score his first goal in his new colors.
In the locker room, Willy Sagnol asks his men to regain control of the ball and play higher up. He sees his team occupying Nice’s half for the first few seconds of the second half. Until the 50th minute and the expulsion of Enzo Crivelli for dangerous play. The young forward attempts a two-footed tackle and doesn’t touch Jeremy Pied, but the danger of the gesture leads the referee to send him off anyway. A turning point, especially since the following action further ditches Bordeaux.
At full speed, Nice launches an offensive, with Ricardo Pereira in position to cross to Le Bihan. The Nice striker places a good header, but Carasso stretches out. Unfortunately for the Bordeaux goalkeeper, the ball bounces off Nicolas Palois’s chest and ends up in the net. In one minute, Bordeaux finds itself down to ten men and trailing by two goals to their evening opponents. The start of a very, very long second half.
The Eaglets feast
Overwhelmed, the Bordeaux defense is leaving more and more space. A prime example is Nice’s fourth goal. A good run on the left edge of the box and Le Bihan finds himself one-on-one with Palois. The former Le Havre player evades his opponent with an obvious shot feint. Clearheaded, he then offers his ball to Ben Arfa alone in front of the empty goal. The Nice number 4 takes the liberty of controlling it before pushing the ball into the net. Almost incredulous at the ease of the move he has to make.
With a quarter of an hour remaining in the match, the playmaker of the Eaglets even secures a brace. After a misunderstanding in the penalty area, he finds himself alone and comfortably slots past Cédric Carasso. The best scoring team in the league thanks to its five goals, the Gym doesn’t stop playing. Alexandre Mendy, having come on, even provides the crowd at Allianz Riviera with a sixth goal. Seri’s disguised pass to set him up is delightful. Perhaps it would even have been effective against a less apathetic defense. Mendy just has to shatter the Bordeaux goalkeeper. Nice finishes the night with 6 goals—the number said to belong to the devil; fitting, since Bordeaux endured a night in hell.
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