Luke Entwistle reporting from Allianz Riviera, Nice
The Match
Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Round 2, 25/08/24
OGC Nice and Toulouse FC saw out a 1-1 at the Allianz Riviera as Franck Haise earned his first point as manager of Le Gym, whilst a Yann Gboho-inspired TéFéCé remain unbeaten after their first two games of the Ligue 1 season.
There were doubts that this match would even be played after the LFP, following a war of words between the owner of the Allianz Riviera, the local authorities, and the pitch layer, Nice Eco Stadium, decided to inspect the pitch. What they witnessed was a pitch in a very poor, dried-out state, but ultimately one that they deemed playable… just.
Nice manager Franck Haise suggested that his side’s play style may be adapted in light of the state of the pitch, and whilst there was variation with his side playing more direct at times, Le Gym did also try to play on the floor and through the thirds, as they are accustomed to doing.
Chance creation, however, was difficult. One of the better chances of the first half fell to academy product Antoine Mendy, who really ought to have scored – or at least hit the target – with his free header from six yards out. A much better chance presented itself to livewire forward Mohamed-Ali Cho, who tucked away Evann Guessand’s cross into an empty net, only for the effort to be disallowed for a foul from Melvin Bard in the build-up. Nice felt aggrieved and perhaps rightly so.
Le Gym did take the lead in the second half through Jonathan Clauss, making his home debut. He finished off a swift vertical attack, his reverse shot beating Guillaume Restes after a neat through ball from Hicham Boudaoui. However, Le TéFéCé were never out of the game and, after an impotent first half, began to look dangerous midway through the second with Frank Magri hitting the bar after some neat work, not for the first time, from Yann Gboho.
Gboho was a thorn in Nice’s side throughout with neither Clauss nor Mendy ever truly keeping him under the control. It was the Toulouse winger who got the assist for the equaliser, putting the ball on a plate for Shavy Babicka to volley home at the back post. It was a brilliant team goal and it deservedly brought Toulouse level.
Both sides made an effort to get a winner with substitute Badredine Bouanani notably forcing Restes into a good save late on, however, neither side could find a winner. Toulouse remain unbeaten but winless, whilst Nice pick up their first point of the Haise era.
Nice player ratings
Marcin Bulka – 5
Dante – 4
Moïse Bombito – 4
Antoine Mendy – 5
Melvin Bard – 6
Rosario – 5
Hicham Boudaoui – 7
Jonathan Clauss – 6
A typical Clauss performance: in possession, he was a big threat, operating high down the right and getting his goal, however, he was defensively suspect and never got a hold on Gboho.
Tanguy Ndombele – 4
A bit of a moments man, the former Tottenham Hotspur man showed moments of brilliance without truly making his mark on the match and was much too quiet for large periods of the encounter.
Evann Guessand – 5
Mohamed-Ali Cho – 7
So difficult to contain throughout, he was unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet after seeing his goal disallowed in the first half. His runs inside caused havoc and once in full, flight, he was difficult to stop. After netting against Auxerre last week, we are perhaps seeing a Cho that is returning to his best after a difficult spell in Spain.
Toulouse player ratings
Guillaume Restes – 4
Rasmus Nicolaisen – 5
Mark McKenzie – 4
Charlie Cresswell – 5
Aron Donnum – 4
Vincent Sierro – 5
Cristian Cásseres – 4
Waren Kamanzi – 5
Yann Gboho – 7
Whilst Cho was the livewire that kept Nice ticking in the final third, Gboho carried out the same role expertly throughout. He was the major source of creativity and danger for Toulouse and made his mark with a sumptuous assist for Bambicka late on.
Frank Magri – 4
Zakaria Aboukhlal – 3
