OGC Nice were beaten by FC Nantes on Friday in the opening match of Matchday 28 of Ligue 1 at the Allianz Riviera (1-2). Ali Abdi scored the only goal for the Aiglons.

On Friday, nothing went in Le Gym’s favour. Up against an FC Nantes side fighting to stay up, Franck Haise’s men dominated the game from start to finish, creating many chances and conceding very few. Despite this, it was the Canaries who left the Côte d’Azur with all three points in hand.

Eager to bounce back a week after their derby defeat at Monaco (Matchday 27, 2-1), the Rouge et Noir got off to a good start, immediately disrupting their opponent’s build-up play with intense pressing. Ali Abdi even had the game’s first chance, but was denied by Anthony Lopes, who made the first of many saves (4'). Ultimately, it was the visitors who struck first, surprising the Allianz Riviera with a long-range shot from Douglas Augusto on one of their first forays into Nice’s half (0-1, 11').

ABDI REWARDED

Les Aiglons responded quickly, thanks to an excellent goal from Abdi - his third of the Ligue 1 season - after a perfect assist from Hicham Boudaoui (1-1, 14').

Completely dominant, Le Gym then smothered a Nantes side struggling to build out from the back, only staying afloat thanks to a stellar performance from Lopes. The former Lyon goalkeeper frustrated Gaëtan Laborde, first deflecting a beautiful curling effort from the Nice striker (19'), then blocking a low shot with his foot (21'). And when Antoine Kombouaré’s last line of defence wasn’t enough, the post came to the rescue, stopping a well-struck curling attempt from Jeremie Boga that deserved a better outcome (25').

After failing to take advantage, Youssouf Ndayishimiye and his teammates were punished by Nantes’ clinical finishing. Well positioned in the box following a poorly cleared corner by the Nice defence, Matthis Abline beat Marcin Bułka from close range, despite Jonathan Clauss’s attempt to clear it off the line (1-2, 38').

LE GYM TRIED EVERYTHING

Scored against the run of play, this second goal was a mental blow to the hosts. Still in control of the match during the second half, Coach Haise’s side were less threatening, hindered by Nantes’ game plan and compact defensive block. Despite several changes, including Morgan Sanson's return to competitive action, Le Gym were never able to (re)find the breakthrough.

Lopes once again took flight to stop Clauss’s ambitious free kick from finding the net (60'), before definitively crushing the Allianz Riviera’s hopes with a superb opposite-hand save to deny Badredine Bouanani’s curled shot (70'), who again came up short against the Nantes keeper just moments later (75').

Next up for the Rouge et Noir squad: a trip to the Meinau to face Strasbourg on Saturday 12 April (9:05pm).

Hugo Rondet