Nice held to a 1-1 draw by Caen in a match of poor quality. With 42 points, Claude Puel’s men are on the verge of securing their place in the league. The next “staying up” episode is at Saint-Etienne next Sunday.
It has now been 13 weeks since OGC Nice last won at the Allianz Riviera, and the crowd seems weary. For the survival, mathematically, nothing is secured but OGC Nice is 90% likely to be at the Ligue 1 starting line next August for the 2015-2016 season.
Claude Puel once again changes his starting eleven. The “homegrown” striker Alexy Bosetti (5 goals, all at home) is given a start at the forefront, pushing Alassane Plea to the right side of the attack. Valentin Eysseric takes a place on the bench.
The first ten minutes are uninspiring. The first chance of the match comes from Benezet, whose shot is deflected for a corner by Digard (13th minute). Shortly after, Nice is caught off guard. Koita capitalizes on Grégoire Puel’s passivity to regain the ball and send Benezet on a through ball, who lobs Hassen (16th minute, 0-1). Eric Bauthéac responds with a tense shot that goes left (22nd minute). Less than thirty seconds later, a miraculous intervention from Romain Genevois stops a counterattack from Caen.
After the hour mark, Koita should have been awarded a penalty for an illegal charge by Genevois, but Philippe Kalt, delivering an overall poor performance, doesn’t blow the whistle. Gym equalizes thanks to the inevitable Carlos Eduardo with a header at the near post, his 10th goal in Gym’s jersey. The Brazilian benefits from good work by Bauthéac on the left side, followed by a cross from Plea at the run’s end (41st minute, 1-1). Nice could have gone into the break trailing, but Nangis doesn’t capitalize on Hassen’s hazardous outing, who, in the following action, parries a Koita shot with his gloves (42nd and 45+1 minute).
“Caen got into the match well; they challenged us in aerial and wings play. We expected this type of match,” explained Nampalys Mendy in the mixed zone.
As usual, Nice starts the second half stronger. The Bosetti-Bauthéac duo comes close to scoring, but Da Silva puts an end to the action (48th minute). On the corner, Carlos Eduardo’s header grazes the crossbar. Twice, Nice’s captain Didier Digard tries his luck, but both of his shots go over (62nd and 65th minute). Bauthéac, having a good match, believes he’s given his team the lead, but his shot just misses Vercoutre’s left post (70th minute). The introductions of Honorat and Hult do nothing to change the second half, which remains poor in opportunities. At the very end of the match, the red and black narrowly avoid a knockout; Sala, just substituted in, sees his header skim Hassen’s crossbar (90th minute).
“We can’t be satisfied with a draw at home. But considering the nature of the match, with an unawarded penalty for Caen, we could have been 2-0 down. This season, there’s a sort of ‘ill-at-ease’ at home, likely due to pressure. Since we are better away, for the trip to Saint-Etienne, we think, why not…” says Eric Bauthéac at the conclusion of the match.
With 5 wins, 6 draws, and 7 home defeats, the Aiglons’ record is more than negative. But with three games left, Nice holds a five-point lead (plus goal difference, equivalent to a point) over the first team in the relegation zone, Evian. Claude Puel and his men will travel to Saint-Etienne (Sunday 10, 5 pm) before hosting Lens and going to Toulouse. With one win in the last three matches, OGC Nice would ensure their survival.
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