OGC Nice lost in the Mediterranean Derby at the Orange Vélodrome against Marseille on Matchday 4 of Ligue 1 (2-0).

Nice will have regrets. They hit the post three times, and twice conceded goals shortly after. Maupay (40', 1-0) and Henrique (53', 2-0) were Marseille's scorers. Despite having a numerical advantage in the last quarter of the match, Nice pushed hard but couldn’t find a solution. With this defeat, Nice provisionally sit in 9th place in Ligue 1 with 4 points.

At kick-off, Franck Haise fielded a 3-4-3 formation for Nice, featuring Mohamed Abdelmonem's first start in the Red and Black jersey in central defence. Bułka, Ndayishimiye, Dante (captain), Clauss, Rosario, Ndombele, Bard, Cho, Guessand and Boga completed the lineup.

NICE HIT THE POST BEFORE CONCEDING

From the early moments, Marseille controlled the ball against a well-organised Nice team. The first chance came for OM, with Henrique’s shot in the box saved by Bułka (4’). Bit by bit, Nice became dangerous, closing down spaces. Bard set up Boga on the left, whose low cross was stopped by Rulli (5’). Evann Guessand had two dangerous shots blocked by OM’s defence (12’, 25’). Nice contained Marseille and created some interesting chances, with Ndombele’s skillful run on the left leading to a corner (15’).

Both teams traded attacks but struggled to create real chances. The game heated up after the half-hour mark. Greenwood’s long-range strike flew just over Bułka’s goal (30’). Seven minutes later, Bard’s powerful volley from Cho’s precise cross hit Rulli's left post (37’). Marseille broke the deadlock shortly after, with Neal Maupay heading in a deflected Henrique cross from close range (1-0, 40’). Nice went into half-time trailing by one goal, determined to turn things around in the second half.

ANOTHER STORY OF HITTING THE POST…

The second half started energetically. Greenwood charged into Nice’s box but curled his shot wide (46’). Nice responded quickly. Boga’s free kick was saved by Rulli and Rosario’s rebound strike hit the post before Rulli gathered the ball (49’). However, Marseille’s increased intensity paid off with a second goal. After a one-two with Harit, Luis Henrique unleashed a shot from outside the box, finding the top corner (2-0, 53’).

After this second goal, Nice struggled to create chances, with Bard's powerful cross finding no one (56’). Boga’s shot was saved by Rulli, who tipped it over the bar (62’). Nice became more aggressive in attack, searching for a way to close the gap. Franck Haise made his first changes, bringing on Bouanani, Moukoko and Abdi for Cho, Boga, and Dante, marking the debut of the German and Tunisian internationals in Nice colours.

Minutes later, referee Mr. Millot showed a second yellow card, leading to a red, to Marseille defender Cornelius, who delayed taking his free kick (74’). Nice played the last 15 minutes with a man advantage and intensified their efforts to change the game. After a good cross from Clauss, Abdi set up Moukoko, unmarked in the box, but the Nice recruit missed the target by a few centimetres (79’). Louchet and Diop, back from injury, came on for Rosario and Ndombele in the final minutes. Nice created many chances but lacked the finishing touch, including Guessand’s low strike in the box that was saved by Rulli (89’) and Bouanani’s effort that hit the post (90+2’).

NEXT UP: SAINT-ÉTIENNE

OGC Nice will host ASSE next Friday at the Allianz Riviera at 8:45pm on Matchday 5 of Ligue 1. A historic fixture in French football, it will also be the occasion to celebrate the club’s 120th anniversary.