OGC Nice rounded off their 2024 Ligue 1 campaign with a 2-2 draw away to Montpellier after a lively encounter between two attack-minded teams. Gaëtan Laborde and Badredine Bouanani scored for Le Gym.

Twice the Aiglons led, but twice they were pegged back on Sunday afternoon. Facing an MHSC side fighting for survival in Ligue 1, Franck Haise's men were back in domestic action, three days after a frustrating Europa League defeat at Union Saint-Gilloise. With an eleven strengthened by the return of Jonathan Clauss, who started for the first time since the match against Lille (M11, 10 November), Tanguy Ndombele and Gaëtan Laborde, Le Gym thought for a long time that they had secured a seventh league win of the season. Set on their way by superb goals from Laborde and Bouanani, the Rouge et Noir led for almost an hour on Sunday. But it was not enough.

MAGIC FROM LABORDE AND BOUANANI

Although Les Héraultais created the first chance of the match, which was snuffed out by Sofiane Diop's excellent recovery at the feet of Akor Adams (14'), it was Les Azuréens who opened the scoring through Laborde. On his return to Montpellier, a club where he played and scored 39 goals between 2018 and 2021, Le Gym's number 24 unleashed a magnificent shot with his strong left foot. From the edge of the area, he gave Benjamin Lecomte no chance, and all he could do was watch the ball fly into the top corner of his net (0-1, 18').

The Mont-de-Marsan native scored his third Ligue 1 goal of the season but was unable to enjoy it for long. Just four minutes after the goal was scored, Le Gym conceded an equaliser. A good cross from Jordan Ferri found Joris Chotard, who made no mistake with an unstoppable header past Marcin Bułka (1-1, 22').

It was Badredine Bouanani's turn to impact the game. The other left-footed member of Le Gym's attack was on hand to provide a moment of magic. The Algerian international took the ball between the lines, dribbled past Chotard with his right foot and followed it up with a perfectly placed shot just inside the right-hand post to put his side back in front (1-2, 28').

TIRED AIGLONS CRACK

Bouanani, who also scored for the third time in 2024-25 (in all competitions), gave a boost to an away side that could have extended their lead had it not been for Lecomte's fine save from Laborde after good work from Guessand (39'). But it was the opening sequence of the second half that gave the Rouge et Noir cause for regret. Just after the interval, Les Niçois created two huge chances, with Laborde losing a one-on-one with Lecomte (46'). Bouanani and Guessand then got in each other's way just as the two strikers looked well placed to score. The left-footed Algerian eventually took the ball, but his shot from the edge of the area flew just wide of Lecomte's left-hand post (47').

Tired from their efforts, three days after a match played on a poor pitch in Belgium, Les Aiglons found the end of the game a little trickier against a Montpellier side revitalised by the changes made by Jean-Louis Gasset. Marcin Bułka was decisive in deflecting away Mousa Tamari's effort from the right of the area (68'), but the Polish international keeper could do nothing twelve minutes later. Following a free-kick from Diop, the visitors were on the receiving end of a devastating counter-attack, culminating in a clever pass from Tamari that Sainte-Luce converted into a goal (2-2, 80').

HEADING FOR THE CUP

The end of the game become frantic but failed to produce a fifth goal. Melvin Bard, back in action after an absence of almost three weeks, made a decisive block in front of Junior Ndiaye (90'+2). Assured of finishing the year in the top six, in sixth position, Les Aiglons are just three points off fourth place and will go into 2025 still in the fight for Europe. They conclude their first half of the season next Saturday, in Corsica, against Corte in the round of 32 of the Coupe de France.

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Hugo Rondet