OGC Nice falls 1-0 in the derby against Bastia. After an average match, the Aiglons halt a series of three games without defeat while Bastia returns to victory and saves the head of their coach. A chaotic end with pitch invasion and fights following a “provocation” by a Corsican player.
“A derby is not played, it is won,” said Jordan Amavi in a press conference this week. Missed, the Niçois failed their match, lacking success in front of the goal and, in addition, the club risks heavy sanctions after the pitch invasion at the final whistle.
A starting eleven that changes compared to the reception of Montpellier before the international break. Souleymane Diawara retains his place in central defense despite the return from injury of Romain Genevois. On the right side, Grégoire Puel is started in place of Lloyd Palun, who returned late from Gabon where he was playing the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. In attack, Valentin Eysseric, coming off a good match against the reserves, takes his place on the right. Surprise on the left side where Claude Puel preferred Niklas Hult to Eric Bauthéac.
A soporific first quarter-hour, the worst since the start of the season, with nothing to report except Bosetti’s header (11th) well caught by Alphonse Aréola, Bastia’s goalkeeper. A lot of waste on both sides despite a pitch (finally) in good condition and two teams playing with the handbrake on, afraid to attack, to open up. It took until the 40th minute to see a solo run by Jordan Amavi, impressive again tonight but his right-footed shot went over the Corsican goalkeeper’s crossbar. The Swede, Hult, the victim of a dangerous charge by Diakité, injured in the neck, had to give his place to Eric Bauthéac just before halftime.
Upon returning from the locker room, the public expects only one thing: some excitement to avoid a nap… No time to digest the sandwich when Mathieu Peybernes sends a long ball deep into the Niçois camp. Upon receiving it, Souleymane Diawara misses and Floyd Ayité snatches the ball from him. The Corsican attacker fixes Hassen and pushes the ball into the net with a nice flat foot finish (51st). Bastia takes the lead with its only shot on target of the match.
“They have 100% success. In terms of content, we didn’t play a bad match, but it was hard against a very tight block at the back. We’re disappointed because we created many chances (17 shots) tonight,” regrets Valentin Eysseric.
This goal succeeded in waking up the Aiglons, who responded with a good free-kick by Eric Bauthéac (67th), the Niçois most dangerous in the second half, forcing Aréola to make a great save. A few minutes later (71st), it’s still the left midfielder of the Gym who produced the best chance for his team with a left-footed shot that the Corsican goalkeeper deflected for a corner. In the 76th minute, Plea strongly crossed back for Bosetti, whose shot went just over SC Bastia’s goal. Plea and Eysseric’s shots led nowhere.
Maupay’s entry into the game did not change the score, with Nice losing for the second time at home following Bordeaux (1-3) due to lack of effectiveness. In the next match, the Aiglons will travel to Guingamp (Sunday 26th at 5 PM) hoping to bring back points, under penalty of the red zone getting closer.
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