OGC Nice holds Lens before the French Cup final

At the Allianz Riviera, OGC Nice held their own against RC Lens (1-1) at the end of an intense, competitive match full of twists and turns, three weeks before their French Cup final showdown.

This 32nd matchday of Ligue 1 offered a unique clash between two teams that were opposites in the standings but would soon meet for a historic encounter. Fifteen days before the final of the 109th edition of the French Cup, Nice and Lens met at the Allianz Riviera for a match crucial to their respective trajectories. The Eagles, in fifteenth place with 30 points, had only a five-point lead over Auxerre, the playoff position holder, and came off three draws, including a solid 1-1 secured at Marseille. Their record — seven wins, nine draws, 15 defeats, 35 goals scored and 57 conceded — testified to a difficult season.

In contrast, Lens, who had soundly beaten the Azureans in December (2-0), arrived with very different prospects. PSG’s runners-up with 63 points (20 wins, three draws, seven defeats) and a match in hand, Racing still harbored a slim hope in the title race, especially after Paris’ draw against Lorient shortly before. The Red and Golds absolutely had to win to come within three points of the leader. The context promised an engaged encounter, despite the numerous injuries on the Nice side and a team reshaped by Claude Puel, fielded in 3-5-2 with Yehvann Diouf, Antoine Mendy, Juma Bah, Kojo Oppong, Tom Louchet, Kail Boudache, Hicham Boudaoui, Morgan Sanson, Melvin Bard, Sofian Diop and Mohamed-Ali Cho.

A lively match

Lens entered the game with the clear intention of imposing a high tempo. As early as the 4th minute, Edouard inherited a ball in front of goal and forced Yehvann Diouf to make a reflex save on his line. The Red and Golds dominated possession largely (76% in the first quarter hour) and multiplied attempts. OGC Nice, despite its technical difficulties, responded with quick transitions. In the 11th minute, Baidoo intervened in extremis to block a shot from Mohamed-Ali Cho, launched by Kail Boudache.

The first turning point came in the 21st minute: a possible handball by Ganiou in the Lens penalty area led to VAR intervention. After review, referee Thomas Léonard confirmed there was no foul. Shortly after, Sangaré came close to opening the score with a curling shot that flirted with the right post of Yehvann Diouf. The match knew no quiet moments. At halftime, the 0-0 reflected an intense first half: 60% possession for Lens, nine shots to four, but two impeccable goalkeepers.

After the restart, the Gym raised the pressure in the pressing and recovered several loose balls, without managing to capitalize. Then on a Nice corner, the scenario changed completely. Former Nice player Allan Saint-Maximin, benefiting from a reckless Yehvann Diouf exit, ran forward on the counter straight down the middle, eliminated the goalkeeper and scored into the empty net (0-1). The former Eagle signed his third goal of the season.

Lens, emboldened, then hit the bar on a curling shot from Florian Thauvin, deflected at the tips of the fingers by Yehvann Diouf. Nice seemed to be wavering, but a turn of events changed everything: ten minutes from the end, Abdulhamid was sent off for a foul on the edge of the penalty area on Sofian Diop. The free kick that followed was blocked, the ball fell back to Ali Abdi, alone behind the wall, who equalized with his left foot between Risser’s legs (1-1, 84th). The 26,514 Gym supporters present that evening at the Allianz Riviera erupted, and OGC Nice secured their point.

A precious draw for OGC Nice, a setback for Lens

The score did not change. OGC Nice obtained an important point in the fight for survival, extending their lead to six points over Auxerre before a crucial direct clash. Lens, for its part, missed the opportunity to come within three points of PSG and remains six points behind the leader. The Red and Golds must now turn their attention to a dense end of the season, with Nantes, PSG and Lyon on the schedule, before facing OGC Nice at the Stade de France for a final that promises to be electric on May 22. Before that, the Gym must secure a good result at Auxerre to confirm their survival. The next appointment is next Sunday at 9 p.m.