OGC Nice falls 1-3 to Paris Saint-Germain despite a good hour of play and numerous opportunities. The Eagles will have to secure their stay next week on the field in Rennes.
Sixty minutes of good quality then the hammer blow. Facing the leader cold in realism and efficiency, the Niçois did not manage to hold the capital club as they had against other top teams in Ligue 1 like Monaco, Marseille, and Lyon. No points in the view of staying up, but certainties to reproduce next Saturday in Rennes and during the last four matchdays.
The start of the match is surprising as it is completely in favor of the red and black who monopolize the ball and create clear chances, like Genevois who deflects an Eysseric free-kick in the 3rd minute. The best Niçois opportunity comes in the 15th minute when young Saïd Benrahma curls a shot just wide. Paris is overwhelmed, the leader cannot cope. As often as not, they rely on their playmaker, Javier Pastore. Against the run of play, the Argentinian scores on their second real chance. Served at the edge of offside by Lucas, he beats Pouplin with a side-footed shot (0-1, 39th). It’s the moment the Niçois choose to react. After an innocuous shot from Benrahma and with David Luiz covering, Bodmer deflects the ball into Sirigu’s net (1-1, 44th). An equalizer deserved based on the first half effort of the entire Niçois team.
“I really appreciated the first half from my team. We showed quality but weren’t efficient enough. We had the best situations, we should have reached halftime maybe with a two-goal lead. Instead, we conceded the first goal, we had the fortune to come back just before the break. But we didn’t capitalize during our strong moments,” lamented the Gym coach after the match.
The return from the locker room is bursting on both sides. On the first action, Pouplin makes a miraculous save from a point-blank shot by David Luiz (48th). In the ensuing action, it’s Sirigu’s turn to shine. The Parisian keeper deflects a masterful header by Carlos Eduardo onto his post (50th). At the hour mark, David Luiz’s header hits Pouplin’s crossbar. A first reprieve. Less than five minutes later, Pastore puts on a show in the Niçois box, but Pouplin stops him the first time. The passive Niçois defense gives him back the ball and he blasts it past the Niçois keeper (1-2, 63rd). Nice cracks, begins to fumble their football. Jordan Amavi trips Edinson Cavani in the box, a logical penalty is whistled by Mr. Desiage. The Uruguayan international takes justice into his own hands and beats Pouplin with a powerful shot (1-3, 69th). Paris then controls the rhythm of the match and could have increased the score, but Bahebeck’s shot grazes the post. It takes an exceptional save from Sirigu at the very end of the match to keep out a curling Eysseric shot heading for the top corner.
“I’m a bit torn. The feeling of playing against Paris without being able to do much. But at the same time, we missed the chance to take a point by leaving some opportunities behind. This match shouldn’t break the current momentum,” says Simon Pouplin.
A defeat without shame for the Niçois, which ends a series of three unbeaten matches. However, they extend a streak of five matches without a win at home. With the other results of the 33rd matchday, Nice is 11th with still a six-point lead over 18th, Lorient. Claude Puel’s men will get back to work from Monday to try to secure their status on Breton soil next Saturday during the next matchday.
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