The Eaglets executed a superb operation by dominating Montpellier, a direct competitor for fifth place (1-0). They earn the right to continue dreaming of a possible qualification for the European Cup.
Qualification for the European Cup seems like a distant dream given the Gym’s lackluster season. And yet. Seven matches before the end, Nice has never been closer. Despite a lack of offensive efficiency, the Eaglets rely on great defensive solidity.
This afternoon, Montpellier is visiting the Eaglets’ nest. Led by their formidable duo Laborde-Delort, the “Pailladins” are also in the race for Europe, just ahead of the Gym. The match has all the elements to make it an intense game.
The first fifteen minutes were “average,” followed by a good half-hour. Those are the highlights of Nice’s first period. Shaken at the start by MHSC but kept in the match thanks to a superb save by Benitez from a Delort volley (14’), the Gym gradually took control before the break, showing a lot of authority in duels. This trend was exemplified by Lamine Diaby-Fadiga, initially dominated by Hilton but later dominant. With his solid frame, the young 18-year-old forward fully played his role as an anchor point. Around him, the Gym moved with speed and energy, exemplified by an energetic and technically adept Bassem Srarfi on the right flank (after starting on the left).
The local team’s good intentions were rewarded with Dante opening the score, perfectly converting a free kick from Cyprien (1-0, 20′). The Niçoise then had several chances before half-time but lacked just a bit of clarity in the final play each time. This trend continued throughout the match…
Exploiting a swift counterattack after a Montpellier free kick, Saint-Maximin, set on his way by an excellent Burner, sprinted 60 meters, bypassed Aguilar without a glance but aimed his shot too wide (27′). The same Saint-Maximin didn’t put enough power in his pass to Diaby-Fadiga, who was caught up by Aguilar (perhaps aided by his arm, 44′). Cyprien later saw a promising free kick blocked by the wall, and a good shot went over the bar.
In summary, Nice controlled the match without being safe – as Laborde’s header off target, well-served by Le Tallec, confirmed (25′).
The Eaglets attacked the second half with a bang. On a corner redirected by Danilo, Hérelle thought he made a difference with a powerful volley, but Lecomte intervened. Following that, Saint-Maximin entered the box but failed to adjust his two attempts adequately (47′). Two minutes later, after a beautiful collective effort, Lees-Melou found himself in front of the defense but saw his shot just brushed by the opposing goalkeeper.
The Gym did not capitalize on their strong period to ensure safety. At the back, the Eaglets held firm, relying on their rock-solid defense. Hérelle and Dante, always commanding, held the fort.
A shot from Mollet deflected by Dante hit the post, and Allianz grasped even more that a good performance would involve suffering and sweat (78′). A shot from Delort caught in two attempts by Benitez (80′) confirmed it.
Despite match-winning chances for Saint-Maximin and Lees-Melou towards the end, the locals focused on maintaining their advantage. After a long added time, the Gym secured their thirteenth victory of the season. They benefited from the missteps of Marseille, Saint-Étienne, and Reims to close the gap, and also those of Rennes (and thus Montpellier) to distance themselves.
Nice is now five points ahead of Rennes, tenth in the league. This bodes well ahead of a final sprint that will see the Gym face Rennes, precisely, next week, as well as Saint-Étienne in the 37th week. In the meantime, Nice will host Caen and Guingamp, both fighting to stay afloat, and travel to Paris. Many points to fight for in hopes of securing a place in a European Cup that seemed so distant not long ago.
PLAYER RATINGS
Benitez: 6: The Argentine goalkeeper didn’t have much to handle. He was present for long balls and the rare MHSC attacks. Clean.
Burner: 5: Starting on the right, Burner showed clean defensive skills but did not contribute offensively. He stayed somewhat withdrawn on his flank, likely as instructed by coach Vieira.
Hérelle: 8: Great match. The former Troyes player has been delivering good performances in recent weeks. Alert, he’s definitely the man of the match, always in the right place.
Dante: 7: Like his partner in central defense, the captain fulfilled his role perfectly. Especially with that goal from a beautiful header in the first half. Another fine performance for the “Commander.”
Sarr: 6: Nothing remarkable. Defensively solid, he didn’t contribute offensively, like his teammate Burner on the other wing, probably due to instructions from the bench.
Cyprien: 5: The midfielder was below the team’s overall level with some ball losses noted in the first half. Nevertheless, he assisted on Dante’s goal with a beautifully delivered free kick. Substituted due to a “received knock” at halftime and replaced by Remi Walter (45th minute) who brought impact to the midfield.
Danilo: 5: The Brazilian midfielder was discreet in this match. Less noticeable than in recent encounters, he failed to provide an offensive boost. However, his commitment and resilience are noteworthy.
Lees-Melou: 6: Similar to his midfield teammates for the Gym. He was the most dangerous of the three, notably with forward surges. Noteworthy was a significant miss in the second half and the ball he forgot while challenging the Montpellier goalkeeper.
Srarfi: 6: A lot of defensive efforts and some flashes of brilliance up front for the young attacker. Nevertheless, he gave Ruben Aguilar work to do on Nice’s left side with his ball-handling provocations. Lacked clarity in the final pass. Replaced by Ganago at the end of the match.
Diaby: 6: Lots of effort, and more effort for the young attacker. He gave a lot in this match and held his own against the experience of the veteran Hilton (41 years old) in the battle. Precious in deflections, he did not have scoring opportunities himself, working for others. Replaced by Boscagli.
Saint-Maximin: 6: A dreadful first act before waking up at the start of the second half. He missed two one-on-ones with the opposing goalkeeper, but his wild runs forward left Montpellier defenders dizzy. One good half out of two.
PATRICK VIEIRA’S REACTION
“Throughout the match, I saw a beautiful Nice team. The players were very focused. We suffered in the first 10-15 minutes, taking time to learn how to defend against their two wide players. But then we managed to impose ourselves. We created real chances and could have scored more tonight. I saw a very captivating Nice today. Perhaps I changed the system too early, which made us retreat too much. But what’s important is our mentality throughout the 90 minutes.”
PIERRE LEES-MELOU’S REACTION
“We saw the results last night, and we knew we had a good opportunity. We started the match in the best possible way, especially delivering a good first half. With all the chances we had, it’s a shame to only win 1-0 with a set-piece goal and not manage to kill the game earlier…. But we won’t nitpick: we are very happy with the 3 points. Europe? We believe in it! We’ve always said we’re not giving up, and that nothing is over. This afternoon, we prove that. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, we’re not in Europe yet. Another big game awaits us at Rennes on Sunday. We need to rest and prepare well to tackle it again.”
GAUTHIER GANAYE’S REACTION
“It was a great match. Once again, we had control, the ball, and many more opportunities than usual. The score could have been much higher. We were technically superior; there was a lot of determination, and at the end, we had to hold strong and never gave up. We also had a crowd that was exceptional from the first to the last minute. Today, we have 7 matches remaining, 4 of them at home. If we continue to deliver these performances and have strong crowd support, we can keep believing. That’s good news.”
