OGC Nice lost 4-1 at Lyon on Sunday on Matchday 13 of Ligue 1, in a match in which they were punished for their own mistakes and hampered by the refereeing. All of which leaves a bitter feeling of déjà vu on a trip to Lyon.

Trailing from the start after a Lacazette goal (1-0, 4'), Le Gym did well to respond in the first half. First through Guessand, whose goal was disallowed for a foul by Rosario on Tagliafico at the start of the move, then through Diop, who scored the equaliser on 22 minutes (1-1).

Struggling at the end of the first half, where they conceded 2 goals after individual errors (Lacazette 41‘, Veretout 43’), Franck Haise's team were let down by the refereeing after the break. While the whole of France saw that Guessand should have been awarded a penalty in the 49th minute, Mr Dechépy and the VAR decided not to penalise a ‘’reverse stranglehold‘’ by Caleta-Car on the Côte d'Ivoire international. Shortly afterwards, however, Mr Dechépy and the VAR opened their eyes together to point out a handball by Nandjou from a corner. Lacazette wasted no time in scoring a hat-trick from the penalty spot (4-1, 69').

The die was cast. Ndombele saw the chance to make it 4-2 slip from his grasp after being set up by Nandjou, but Le Gym never recovered. They were punished by absentees and mistakes, and slaughtered by the errors of others which were just a little too common.