On level terms at half-time after Nicholson's penalty was saved by Bulka just before the break, Les Aiglons failed to gain the upper hand against Clermont on Matchday 23 of Ligue 1 (0-0).

OGC Nice and Clermont shared the points on Matchday 23 of Ligue 1 at the Allianz Riviera (0-0). With this draw, Francesco Farioli's team sit in fourth place in Ligue 1 with 40 points. Le Gym had chances, especially in the first half, but lacked the accuracy in front of goal to make the difference against a valiant Clermont side who managed to create danger at the other end of the pitch. Les Aiglons were able to rely on a stellar performance from Marcin Bułka this Sunday. The Polish goalkeeper saved a Clermont penalty in injury time of the first half.

Bułka Lotomba, Todibo, Dante (captain), Bard Boudaoui, Thuram, Claude-Maurice, Cho, Guessand and Boga made up the Nice starting eleven, with Farioli making four changes to the starting line-up against Lyon last weekend.

LE GYM LACK ACCURACY

Set up in a 4-3-3 formation, Nice dominated possession from the early minutes and looked to control the game. The first fifteen minutes of the match were clearly dominated by the home side, who were pressing in Clermont's half and posing a threat. Cho received a perfect through ball from Thuram, crossed from the right side of the box, but Clermont's defence managed to clear the ball just before Guessand could shoot (4’). Shortly after, Thuram attempted a shot from outside the box but it went over the crossbar (5’), as did attempts from Boudaoui (14’) and Claude-Maurice (16’ and 19’). Despite threatening, Le Gym, the league's top defence with only 15 goals conceded, were initially rarely threatened.

Dominant in the first half-hour, Nice injected pace into the game with excellent movement and plenty of attempts. Guessand headed Claude-Maurice's cross inside the box but narrowly missed the target (27’) and Boudaoui failed to keep his header on target from Boga's corner (38’). It wasn't until the fortieth minute that Le Gym recorded their first shot on target, with Claude-Maurice's effort being saved by Diaw (40’).

BUŁKA SAVES A PENALTY!

Having been relatively untroubled until that point, Les Rouge et Noir found themselves under pressure towards the end of the first half, but Marcin Bułka proved unbeatable. After a communication error and a back pass from Dante, the Nice goalkeeper smartly saved Boutobba's close-range shot (43’). In injury time of the first half and after a VAR review, the referee awarded a penalty to Clermont following contact between Dante and Nicholson in the box. Nicholson stepped up to take the penalty, but Marcin Bułka perfectly pushed the shot away in front of an ecstatic crowd (45+6'), allowing Les Aiglons to go in at half-time at 0-0.

LE GYM FAIL TO TAKE CONTROL

After the break, Clermont became more attacking and caused Nice problems. Marcin Bułka saved Cham's first-time shot (48’) and Bard deflected Boutobba's attempt off for a corner (48’). Les Rouge et Noir continued to create promising chances but lacked precision. Guessand attempted a right-footed strike from Boudaoui's cross, but Diaw saved (53’), Cho's effort from inside the box was stopped by the Auvergne goalkeeper and Boga's shot missed the target (58’).

Francesco Farioli then decided to make changes to inject some freshness. Moffi and Rosario came on for Boga and Boudaoui. And the two substitutes immediately made an impact. Played in deep by Rosario, Moffi was just short as the Clermont goalkeeper came out of his box to intercept the ball, the ball fell to Claude-Maurice who found the target but Diaw blocked the attempt again (63’). Both goalkeepers were in fine form, making it difficult for the forwards. A stellar Bułka won his one-on-one against Virginius, deflecting his shot with his foot (65’).

In the closing stages, Les Aiglons tried to find the decisive goal against a fearless Clermont side. After a Gym corner, Thuram crossed to Rosario at the far post in the box, but his header narrowly missed the target (76’). The Tuscan coach made his final changes with Laborde, Rosier and Ndayishimiye coming on for Cho, Lotomba and Claude-Maurice. Moffi attempted a long-range shot, but Diaw once again parried the ball with both hands (84’). Thuram's long-distance strike in the dying moments of the match didn't change the outcome and the score remained unchanged.

FOCUS ON TOULOUSE

Francesco Farioli and his team will travel to Toulouse on Sunday 3 March to face TFC on Matchday 24 of Ligue 1. The match will kick off at 1pm.