With a solid performance, OGC Nice secured a 2-0 victory over Montpellier this Sunday at the Allianz Riviera, on Matchday 23 of Ligue 1. Thanks to goals from Jonathan Clauss and Hicham Boudaoui, Le Gym remain third in the league table.

Serious and focused, Franck Haise's men did the job on Sunday afternoon. Two weeks after their well-deserved 2-0 win against Lens, and seven days after a controlled 3-1 victory at Le Havre, Les Aiglons achieved three consecutive wins for the first time this season. Facing Montpellier, a traditionally tricky opponent despite being bottom of Ligue 1, the Rouge et Noir lived up to expectations.

Motivated by the chance to stay on the podium for a third straight week and the opportunity to close within three points of second-placed Marseille, Nice started the match on the right foot. Boosted by the return of Youssouf Ndayishimiye and Hicham Boudaoui to the starting line-up—both suspended last week—the hosts quickly put Montpellier's defence under pressure. Initially saved by Yaël Mouanga, who made a crucial intervention to stop Boudaoui from tapping in Mohamed-Ali Cho’s cross (5’), Montpellier goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte then denied Evann Guessand, who was well-positioned in the box (10’).

A lively Guessand and Clauss scores again

Mostly dangerous from set-pieces, Montpellier, with Andy Delort returning to Allianz Riviera for the first time since his departure in January 2023, put Nice under pressure their physical duels. However, they lacked clear-cut scoring chances, while Le Gym created more danger, including a tricky cross-shot from Guessand, which was parried by Lecomte (30’).

With five assists in Ligue 1 (plus one in the Coupe de France against Bastia), the No. 29 provided his sixth assist by perfectly setting up Jonathan Clauss on the right side of the box. Brimming with confidence, the French international controlled the ball and coolly beat Lecomte with a cross-shot that tapped the post before finding the net (1-0, 30’). Clauss, netting his third goal of the season (all at home), sent the home crowd into a frenzy, with Nice nearly doubling their lead shortly after. Guessand, was involved once again and delivered a clever pass to Gaëtan Laborde, who mishit his first-time shot (35’). Baptiste Santamaria also threatened with a long-range effort, but Nice's only flaw in the first half was their lack of efficiency.

Boudaoui rightly rewarded

Montpellier, undeterred, responded early in the second half and could have equalised if Tanguy Coulibaly's shot had found more than just the side netting (58’). As Les Aiglons struggled to maintain their rhythm, they were reignited by their standout performer, Evann Guessand.

Launching yet another explosive run down the right, Guessand set up Cho, whose shot was blocked. Boudaoui then capitalised, slotting home after a smart assist from Laborde (2-0, 65’). It was Boudaoui's second goal of the season, his first since late August against Angers, and a well-deserved reward for his dynamic and technically precise performance.

Nice hold on to their spot on the podium

With the toughest part done, Nice managed their lead while continuing to pose a threat. Enzo Tchato first blocked Jeremie Boga's attempt (78’) and then Lecomte denied Laborde, who was close to scoring against his former club (80’).

Montpellier's last chance came from Junior Ndiaye, whose powerful header struck the crossbar, narrowly missing out on spoiling Nice's clean sheet. This bit of luck allowed the Azuréens to keep their third consecutive home clean sheet in Ligue 1, following wins against Marseille and Lens.

With this serene Sunday behind them, OGC Nice will spend another week on the podium, sitting third with 43 points—two ahead of Lille (4th, 41 points) and three clear of Monaco (5th, 40 points). Les Aiglons will travel to Saint-Étienne next Saturday (17:00) for Matchday 24.

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Hugo Rondet