PLAYER RATINGS | OGC Nice 1-2 Nantes: Le Gym’s poor run continues as top four hopes dwindle | OneFootball

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Round 28, 04/04/25

OGC Nice are now four matches without a win in Ligue 1 and succumbed to their third defeat in their last four as FC Nantes bounced back from last weekend’s defeat at the hands of Le Havre AC to take all three points (1-2) at the Allianz Riviera.

The Match

An error from Mohamed Abdelmonem, who gifted Matthis Abline a shot on goal within 40 seconds of kick-off, very much set the tone. Les Canaris missed that opportunity, striking straight at Marcin Bulka, but they were ruthlessly efficient with the other chances they were afforded.

Douglas Augusto gave the visitors the lead with a well-struck, curled effort from outside the box. Neither venmously struck nor right in the corner, Bulka should have kept it out having got a good hand to it. Nice’s response was immediate. Hicham Boudaoui was allowed to roam forward unopposed, slide through a simple ball to Al Abdi, who applied the finish first time. Simple as you like.

Le Gym had chances to take the lead: Gaëtan Laborde forced Anthony Lopes into the first of many strong saves before the former Stade Rennais man tested the Nantes goalkeeper again moments later. He was once again equal to it with Nice feeling hard done by having not been awarded a penalty when Laborde was taken out on the follow-up.

Jérémie Boga then struck the inside of the post and the goal felt inevitable. Ultimately, the goal would come but not for Les Aiglons. From a corner incorrectly awarded, Abline brought down the ball in the second phase of the set-piece and blasted past Bulka.

With a lead to protect, Nantes showed little ambition in the second half and were increasingly reliant on Lopes in goal. He spectacularly denied Hicham Boudaoui, whilst he also recovered to make a good save from a Jonathan Clauss set-piece, which was meant for a teammate’s head but which was curling towards the top corner.

Lopes’ finest save of the night, however, was saved for Hicham Bouaoui, whose curled effort drew a picture-perfect save from the former Olympique Lyonnais man. Boga also went close with a header but Nice could not find a way through and succumbed to a third defeat in four games. Those UEFA Champions League hopes dwindle further. Nice remain in fourth but they could be overtaken by Lille OSC, RC Strasbourg Alsace and Lyon before the end of the gameweek. Lille and Lyon face each other with one point enough for Les Dogues to inherit fourth place.

OGC Nice player ratings

Marcin Bulka – 3

Statistically impressive this season, there has nonetheless been the feeling that the Polish goalkeeper has been less emphatic than in the previous game and has provided fewer assurances. Errors have crept in and they have often proven costly, as his inability to stop Douglas Augusto’s effort early in the first half proved. There was little he could have done with Nantes’ second.

Mohamed Abdelmonem – 3

Both he and Bombito were shaky and error-strewn in the first half. Neither were tested often but when they were, they were not up to the task. For Bombito, it was an outlier; for Abdelmonem, it is more worrying. The Egyptian still lacks a standout match from which to build since his summer move.

Youssouf Ndayishimiye – 6

Moïse Bombito – 3

An error-strewn display, arguably his worst in Nice colours. It was his error that allowed for the chance that led to the corner and, consequently, Nantes’ second. Ill at ease on the ball, it was a match far short of his usual standards.

Ali Abdi – 6

Pablo Rosario – 4

Hicham Boudaoui – 5

Jonathan Clauss – 4

Jérémie Boga – 6

The most dangerous player on the pitch for Nice. Whilst not everything came off, there was intent and he was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet with his curled effort in the first half.

Gaëtan Laborde – 4

Mohamed-Ali Cho – 5

Nantes selected player ratings

Matthis Abline – 6

His touch was off at the start but he grew into the game. He was the ball little, as is often the case, but he has been ruthlessly efficient this season and he was again, taking his goal nicely.

Anthony Lopes – 8

Lopes is the reason that Nantes take all three points away from Nice. He was decisive in the second half, making a string of high-class saves to retain the advantage. The stop to deny Bouanani was the Hollywood save but there were others (Laborde 20′, Clauss 60′, Bouanani 75′) that were important and not simple.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Nice