The defeat of the Aiglons in Rennes (0-2) on Sunday, during the 23rd day of the Ligue 1 championship, revealed a more than worrying aspect of Nice’s game. Absent in the offensive domain, the players simply did not play to their full potential. And this puts them in a very uncomfortable position in the standings.
OGC Nice was playing away. They faced Stade Rennais, the current second in L1, who had regained momentum by dominating Paris Saint Germain the previous week (1-0). These same Bretons were on a streak of five consecutive home victories… Excuses like these, one could find a dozen. But the truth is, the Niçois were apathetic during the match. As a symbol, they only had one goal opportunity in the entire first half, through Anthony Mounier in the 45th minute. But, more broadly, the whole match was missed by Nice, both collectively and individually, although credit must be given to the Azurean goalkeeper David Ospina for doing what he could given the barrage he suffered from the Rennais.
Two points from relegation
Unfortunately, the performance of Eric Roy’s players is symptomatic of their difficulties in performing away and, even more worryingly, in producing play at all. And if this condition is not met, how can a team hope to score goals? Besides, Nice has not scored away against a L1 club since last November 27th in Monaco (1-1). And this observation brings them to a dangerous 16th place with 26 points, only two small lengths from the first relegation spot: precisely, that same Monaco.
Paris and St Etienne up next
If the Niçois still want to have their destiny in their own hands, they will need to find the desire, motivation, and above all, the success necessary to maintain their place among the elite. And the opponents for the next matches do not offer any reassurance: the reception of Paris, then a trip to the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in Saint Etienne. In short, the end of this February promises to be arduous. Certainly, OGC Nice does relatively well against the big guns (victories against Marseille in the championship and against Lyon in the Coupe de France). But, in playing with fire too much, who knows if the Gym will end up getting burned? And if the likes of Mouloungui, Coulibaly, and others repeat the kind of ghostly performance they delivered against Rennes last Sunday, the Nice public may come to encourage their team next season on trips to Clermont or Laval. What great fixtures await us!…
