Racing miscues see Nice extend unbeaten run to eight
Match Reports
In a fast-paced encounter at the Allianz Rivieira, OGC Nice concluded Matchday 12 of Ligue 1 McDonald's with a 2-1 win over Racing Club de Strasbourg, extending their unbeaten in the league to eight matches and lifting them above Lyon into fifth place. Racing had opened the scoring through Dilane Bakwa, but the hosts responded in the second half, leveling the match through Melvin Bard before a calamitous error from the visitors' Abakar Sylla provided the final margin.
Tactical shifts and a lively start
Both Nice's Franck Haise and his opposite number, Liam Rosenior, have established themselves as having a rather gung-ho approach to their play, using three-man defences to control possession and tempo. However, with both sides playing with four-man defences on the night, something different could have been expected, especially with Habib Diarra and Emanuel Emegha -- both key parts of the attack -- missing for Racing. Nice were also short a few key names, with Jonathan Clauss and Ali Al-Abdi both among Les Aiglons' absentees.
Despite that change, the start of the match was full of the high-octane football that is customary for both. Quality chances were rather scarce, though, with Djorde Petrovic making only a few easy saves for Racing and Marcin Bulka doing even less for the hosts. There was little the Polish international could do about Bakwa's opener, though, as the French U-21 winger benefited from his side's strong press to give them a lead they would hold until halftime.
Nice completes a comeback at home 🦅🤝 pic.twitter.com/EikBSENGUU
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) November 24, 2024
Racing are made to pay
Despite holding the lead, Racing were forced into a pair of changes, with both Ismaël Doukouré and Caleb Wiley -- making his first start in several weeks -- forced off through injury. Unsettled, it wouldn't take long for the visitors to be undone, with Sofiane Diop -- making his first start in the league in a year -- expertly picking out Bard to neatly slot home the opener.
Racing tried to react, but struggled to keep their shape and would then go behind after Sylla tried to play the ball back to Petrovic but instead placed into into his own net. Nice taking the lead hardly meant Haise's side was satisfied, though, and only some fine defending from Racing would keep the scoreline as it was. Nice will next be in action in the UEFA Europa League against Rangers on Thursday, while Racing will take on Stade Brestois on Saturday, looking to end a run that has seen them lose four of their last five matches.
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