Despite  a Marcin Bułka penalty save and then opening the scoring through Jeremie Boga, OGC Nice went down 2-1 away to Monaco on Saturday night.

Le Gym’s faithful fans, more than 2,000 of whom made the trip along the coast to the principality to watch the Côte d'Azur derby on Saturday night, believed for a long time that they Les Aiglons were going to prevail. But in the end, the match turned in the home team’s favour in a cruel scenario for les Rouge et Noir.

Monaco burst out of the blocks, but Franck Haise’s men held firm. Aligned in a 3-4-3 formation featuring the return of Jeremie Boga, in the starting line-up for the first time in 2025, Les Rouge et Noir were saved more than once by goalkeeper Marcin Bułka. Like in 2023, when he saved two Folarin Balogun penalties in an epic derby win for Nice, the Polish shot-stopper once again showed his prowess in the exercise of penalties, saving Mika Biereth’s early spot kick (5’). 

Bułka saves, Boga scores

The Gym’s ’keeper then produced an outstanding save to deny Maghnes Akliouche from close range (37’), after Takumi Minamino had seen his earlier effort crash off the crossbar (9’). 

After weathering the storm, Moïse Bombito and Co. grew into the game. More aggressive in the duels and able to play out from the press, Les Aiglons created their first chances of the derby ; firstly Dante from a corner (21’) and then Pablo Rosario from distance (24’), before Boga made the breakthrough. 

After netting the winner the last time Le Gym travelled to Le Rocher, the Côte d’Ivoire international headed home from Jonathan Clauss’ pin-perfect cross just before the break (0-1, 41’). The 2024 African champions first goal of the Ligue 1 season had his side in front at the break.

Le Gym finally cracked

But Monaco began the second half as they had the first : on the front foot. Adi Hütter’s were pressing with intensity and Les Aiglons were forced back into the trenches and were finally overrun. Released by Akliouche, Biereth beat Bułka with a ferocious shot (1-1, 55’). And while Nice’s ’keeper again denied Akliouche (60’), he conceded a second goal when Breel Embolo gave Monaco the lead (2-1, 73). 

Despite the return of Terem Moffi, who replaced Baptiste Santamaria after eight months on the sidelines with a ruptured ACL of the left knee, suffered in pre-season, there wasn’t to be an equaliser for Les Aiglons. Dante was sent off tripping Akliouche and denying a goal scoring opportunity (90’). It was a difficult derby night for Les Rouge et Noir but they remain fourth in the Ligue 1 standings, ahead of the home game against Nantes next Friday, 4 April at 20:45 CET. 

Hugo Rondet