Paris FC – OGC Nice: another bad result for the Gym

This Sunday, OGC Nice traveled to Paris FC’s pitch, as part of the 24th round of Ligue 1. Without showing much, the Eagles fell to a direct competitor in the battle for survival (1-0). The Gym is now 15th in L1, Nice’s place in the elite remains more threatened than ever.

This match against Paris FC was not just any away fixture for OGC Nice. On Parisian soil, Nice’s objective was clear: win all three points, push their opponent down in the standings and get some breathing room in the suffocating battle for survival. Claude Puel’s men have no room for error; if they lose today, PFC would overtake Nice and plunge the Eagles into a worrying 15th place in Ligue 1. Maximum tension at kick-off at Jean-Bouin Stadium!

Under pressure, OGC Nice started strong. The match’s first chance was for the Blues, but Tom Louchet – found on a good cross from Clauss – failed to hit the target. An enormous missed opportunity as the midfielder, who scored twice last weekend against FC Lorient (3-3), was close to the Paris goal. Later, Gym thought they had won a penalty in the 15th minute. Jostled in the box, Kevin Carlos thought he could take matters into his own hands. But Hakim Ben El Hadj, with the VAR – and the heavily exaggerated fall of the Spanish striker – ultimately overturned his initial decision. Result: no penalty for Nice and a yellow card for simulation for the Eagles’ number 90.

Nice crack first, yet again

And when Gym doesn’t score first, it too often ends up giving in. Once again, the scenario repeats itself. Without being dominant, the Paris club took the lead in this clash between poorly-ranked teams (1-0, 26′). Exhausted nonetheless, Marshall Mutnesi profited from a ball poorly cleared by Maxime Dupé to punish the Eagles, just before the half-hour mark. The Nice goalkeeper was beyond reproach in this situation. After this setback, OGC Nice struggled to react. Just before the break, Peprah Oppong – almost in the role of a striker – came up against Kevin Trapp, who made a superb save to allow his side to maintain their lead.

Like last week, Claude Puel made a substitution at the start of the second half. Once again, Kevin Carlos was sacrificed in favor of Kaïl Boudache. Positioned on the right flank in the first half, Mohamed Ali-Cho returned to the tip of the red and black attack. Despite this change, OGC Nice remained toothless. Claude Puel’s players could not find a way to break through the solid opposing defensive block. For his part, Dupé kept his side’s hopes alive with a superb save against Krasso, following yet another lost ball by the Nice defense and Oppong.

The Eagles dangerously slip down the standings

Collective nervousness, individual errors directly punished, Nice’s problems were still present this Sunday on the Jean-Bouin Stadium pitch. OGC Nice’s attacks lacked precision, as exemplified by this duel lost by Gabin Bernardeau who failed to cut inside his last opponent. The Blues’ equalizer never came, Gym loses on the pitch of a direct competitor in the battle for survival (1-0). In the standings, teammates of Sofiane Diop – who was matched by their afternoon opponent – make the worst deal of the day. Nice is now 15th in L1, and has only seven points in hand (and a game in hand) over the current playoff team, AJ Auxerre. Beware of nasty surprises!

Next match this Wednesday, March 4th, for OGC Nice. The Eagles will follow up with a French Cup quarter-final on FC Lorient’s pitch. In a particularly bleak season, the cup will be the Eagles’ last objective. Kick-off at Moustoir Stadium at 8:30 PM.