PLAYER RATINGS | Nice 1-1 Lille: Late Bafodé Diakité leveller denies Francesco Farioli winning start | OneFootball

OGC Nice’s Francesco Farioli was denied a dream start to his managerial reign ar the Riviera club by an injury-time Bafodé Diakité equaliser. Gaëtan Laborde had given Nice the lead in the first half.

Lille looked like the more well-oiled machine early on, but Nice quickly took control and looked dangerous in transition. Rémy Cabella, who had a nightmare performance at the Allianz Riviera last season, was responsible for giving the ball away cheaply to Khéphren Thuram. Two passes and a chipped finish later and Lille were behind thanks to Laborde.

Les Aiglons could have doubled their lead had Thuram opted to shoot and not pass just a minute later, but Lille were dangerous too. Marcin Bulka pulled off important saves from Jonathan David and Cabella before the break.

The second-half was less open, less energetic and chances were at a premium. However, a huge chance fell to Lille at the death, and they took it. Bafodé Diakité rose highest to nod home, salvage a draw for Paulo Fonseca’s Lille and deal a cruel blow to Farioli.

Nice player ratings

Marcin Bulka – 7 – Bulka or Kasper Schmeichel was the big debate pre-match. Ultimately, it looks like the former has won the battle for the number one jersey, and he justified Farioli’s choice with a brilliant performance. Key saves from David and Cabella were pivotal.

Melvin Bard – 3 – Left-back is an area where Nice are looking to strengthen, and you can see why. Bard is still too error-prone and too often gets his side into difficult situations. The left-back berth doesn’t look like being his for too much longer based on this viewing.

Dante – 5

Jean-Clair Todibo – 5

Youcef Attal – 6

Khéphren Thuram – 5 – Not a vintage Thuram performance, but he did make his mark. It was his interception and pass that set in motion the move for Nice’s opener. He wasn’t at his free-flowing best and was hooked early having received a yellow card.

Youssouf Ndayishimiye – 4

Morgan Sanson – 6 – A confident performance by the Aston Villa loanee on his Nice debut. He was calm, metronomic, and always well-positioned.

Jérémie Boga – 4

Terem Moffi – 4

Gaëtan Laborde – 7 – Clinical. The Nice forward had once chance, but it was all he needed. He showed great composure to chip past Chevalier to score the opening goal of the campaign.

Lille player ratings

Lucas Chevalier – 5

Ismaily – 5

Alexsandro – 5

Bafodé Diakité – 7 – Culpable of a poor backpass early in the second half, which was almost pounced upon by Moffi, but stepped up with the winner late on. He did well to rise highest and guide the ball beyond Bulka’s reach.

Tiago Santos – 4

Carlos Noom Quomah Baleba – 5

Benjamin André – 6

Hakón Arnar Haraldsson – 5

Rémi Cabella – 3 – Cabella seems cursed whenever he sets foot on the Allianz Riviera pitch. He was largely responsible for Les Dogues’ defeat here back in January, having missed two huge chances and basically handing Nice’s winner to them on a plate. It was his stray pass that gave Nice their opener again here, and he was once again responsible for missing Lille’s biggest chance.

Alan Virginius – 4

Jonathan David – 4

GFFN | Luke Entwistle