Nice can’t do it anymore

Unrecognizable since the start of 2024, OGC Nice had slipped to fifth place in the ranking when entering their match against Montpellier this Friday evening. Francesco Farioli’s team therefore had an answer to give after having long monopolized the place of runner-up to Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the ranking.

Opposite, Montpellier was riding an even more worrying dynamic. The formation of Michel Der Zakarian, sixteenth, has been on the brink of collapse for several weeks. This duel between the Southerners was therefore fought in a rather heavy atmosphere for these two strongholds of French football. And against all expectations, it was the visitors who had the last word in this balance of power.

Nice throws its tantrum

Still lacking realism in the two zones of truth, the Niçois have not regained part of what made them strong in the first part of the season. Curiously more playful, this team is also much less airtight than a few months ago. At a lively start to the match, Montpellier broke the deadlock with a goal against his camp from Todibo (0-1, 10th).

Boga allowed the Niçois to resurface immediately (1-1, 12th), but the MHSC put their foot back on the accelerator to get back in front just before half-time thanks to a penalty transformed with authority by the emblematic Savanier (1-2, 42nd). A precious advantage that Der Zakarian’s men retained until the end. Montpellier is getting a big breath of fresh air. Nice is still not moving forward.