PSG has a new runner-up. By winning in Brest (3-0) on Sunday, OGC Nice climbed back to second place in Ligue 1, ahead of Olympique de Marseille. The Aiglons were scared at the start of the meeting, with the questionable expulsion of Morgan Schneiderlin from the 20th minute, but were able to remain united to win, with a goal for the three attackers: Kasper Dolberg (13th), Andy Delort (79th) and Amine Gouiri (90th + 4).
The preparation for the match had started with a nice bluff from the Azureans. When their group was revealed on Saturday, the club announced 22 names, including Melvin Bard, Jordan Amavi and Calvin Stengs. The three players were not present on the scoresheet on Sunday, and for good reason: they contracted Covid-19 and did not make the trip. But the Nice staff had knowingly preserved the uncertainty about their presence until the last moment.
Three cases of Covid in the group
“We haven’t played since December 22. It was a resumption match for us, rejoiced Christophe Galtier, the Nice coach, after the meeting. We had a bit of trouble getting into the rhythm. Despite that, we scored a very good goal. After, ten against eleven, the match takes a different turn. You had to be very compact defensively. We defended with great intelligence, Walter Benitez was omnipresent. “
The Argentine goalkeeper was indeed invaluable after the red card, containing the many Breton assaults to preserve the advantage in the score. Thanks to him, the Nice move ahead of OM in the standings, with the same number of points (36), but a better goal difference. Next Friday, they will host FC Nantes.