OGC Nice is defeated 2-0 at Lens for the last match of the year 2014. On a terrible pitch and in the northern cold, the Eagles could have opened the score in the first half, but then collapsed. The relegation zone is looming quickly, and the winter break is arriving at just the right time.
The people of Nice, players and supporters alike, hope to experience better days in 2015. For that, they will need to make good resolutions in 2015, such as scoring goals, winning matches, or offering a more attractive style of play. This Friday night at Lens, the Gym delivered a pale performance, except for the first 30 minutes. The Christmas gift in advance, one or three points, will have to wait.
There was a surprise when discovering the team line-ups. Young Vincent Koziello was preferred over Didier Digard, returning after 6 weeks of absence. Souleymane Diawara returns to central defense, and Mathieu Bodmer advances a notch. Upfront, Alassane Plea is once again in the starting lineup.
The team from Nice started well in the game. On the first action, Plea’s cross was cleared for a corner by the Lens defense. But the Sang et Or responded a few minutes later, and Pouplin made a beautiful save on a header from Kantari (0-0, 7th minute). Ball possession was in favor of the Gym in the first quarter-hour (58%) but without real opportunities. A bit before the 25th minute, Bauthéac did good work on his side, crossing back but Puel couldn’t intercept the trajectory. The game’s best opportunity came in the 30th minute. After a superb effort, Bauthéac launched Eysseric, who accelerated and fired a left-footed shot, hitting the crossbar (0-0, 30th minute). Lens pulled off a small heist in the 38th minute with Cyprien’s goal. After an innocuous throw-in, Puel forgot Nomenjanahary, who crossed back for Cyprien, left alone by the Nice defense. The ball was deflected off Diawara’s back, and Pouplin could do nothing (1-0, 38th minute). Nice responded four minutes later with a shot from Eysseric punched away by Riou. Overall, it was a good quality first half on a scandalous pitch for a Ligue 1 match. It is worth noting that 24 hours earlier, Amiens, a National club, played on it…
Returning from the break, Claude Puel decided to take out Koziello to add physical presence in midfield with the entry of Didier Digard. Not much happened until the 54th minute. A scramble occurred in the area, Diawara very slightly touched Cyprien, who fell in the area. Mr. Desiage did not hesitate and pointed to the penalty spot. Adamo Coulibaly, Lens’ man in form, shot over the bar, allowing Nice to breathe (1-0, 55th minute). The OGC Nice coach tried to find solutions with the introductions of Cvitanich and Maupay in place of Palun and Bauthéac but nothing changed on a pitch that worsened as minutes went by. The referee missed a penalty for Nice in the 67th minute after a foul by Guillaume, who held back Amavi by the arm (1-0, 67th minute). Toward the end of the match, both teams attempted to give their all, but luck sided definitively with Lens. Adamo Coulibaly dashed Nice’s hopes in the 86th minute. The Sang et Or striker toyed with Diawara and Puel on the right side, then with Genevois at the edge of the area, before deceiving Pouplin with a precise side-foot (2-0, 87th minute).
“It’s a difficult end to the year for us. We were warned, we expected this kind of team. We need to take inspiration from what Lens is doing to hope for better. We don’t score, we concede goals, it’s complicated,” explained Didier Digard at the end of the match to BeInSports microphone.
It’s now time for a 15-day winter break to recharge and come back in 2015 with different ambitions. This Friday night, before the other nine matches of the day, Nice is only three points clear of the first relegation spot. The danger is inevitably showing its face.
Photo credit and more information at www.ogcnice.com
