A rediscovered collective, a solid mentality, Nice wins 1-0 against Guingamp and dispels the doubts from the last match. The score could have been heavier without some saves by the Breton goalkeeper, who was also well-assisted by his posts. Beyond the victory, this performance confirms the existence of a two-faced Ogcnice.
The objective before this match was clear: Erase the lackluster performance shown in Nantes and find the way to the net after the zero score at Beaujoire. A fully realized contract against Guingamp.
Conquering in play, Claude Puel’s men regained a level close to last season. Encouraged by 21,500 spectators, the Nice players still took a while to get into the game. The fault lay with a well-organized Guingamp team that came to claim points on Nice soil. Only the very in-form Belgian Brüls seemed capable of making a difference in the first half.
After the break, an entirely different match commenced. From a free-kick won by Pied, Dario Cvitanich slipped away from Breton marking and deceived Assembe with a clever header. One goal ahead and the whole team got organized for battle. Thanks to aggressive pressing, the gym players recovered a lot of balls and created the best opportunities. Right after scoring, Cvitanich, once again ideally served by Brüls, sent his volley above the crossbar.
This was a prelude to an avalanche of dangerous situations for Claude Puel’s men. The posts hit twice by Mendy with a superb volley and Cvitanich with a deflected shot by the goalkeeper onto his post allowed the Guingamp players to keep hope alive until the end. And the Nice players almost regretted these missed chances. In this open game, the Bretons tried their luck several times without success. Atik volleyed against the crossbar, and Yatabaré and Douniama were repeatedly stopped by the Nice goalkeeper and his defense. With a little more luck on both sides, this match could very well have ended with a 4-2 score in favor of the Aiglons.
Regardless of the spectacle or average goal coefficient, OGC Nice remains at the top of the table and can hope to replicate last season’s success. An achievable dream provided they continue this type of performance and supply the Brüls-Cvitanich duo with balls, exhilarating tonight and poised to shake Ligue 1 defenses. Pending a true assessment, Nice heads to Toulouse for the next matchday and aims to leverage this victory against a team a notch above tonight’s opponent.
Photo credit: www.ogcnice.com
