An enticing appetizer before the classic main course between OM and PSG, the Côte d’Azur derby was not lacking in flavor on Sunday afternoon at Louis-II. The fault of Nice people on a cloud, and Monegasques inside.
What you must remember :
Two teams in great shape in the Championship, flamboyant attacks and high ambitions… This Monaco-Nice was terribly attractive on paper. Probably still a little stunned by their elimination in the Europa League play-offs in the middle of the week by Bayer Leverkusen, the Monegasques were unable to restart the machine against the unleashed Aiglons.
More aggressive in the duels, more inspired and above all fairer in front, the Niçois quickly took their ease. Taking advantage of an error in judgment from Axel Disasi, Dante found Terem Moffi with a long ball, who chained a superb full-stroke control with a victorious flat foot (0-1, 8th). The most expensive rookie from OGC Nice fell on an identical goal, this time with Khéphren Thuram in charge to put him in orbit (0-2, 25th). Transformed under Didier Digard, the Aiglons folded all suspense even before the break after a terrible cannon shot from this same Thuram … found by this same Moffi (0-3, 43rd).
Louis-II whistled his players, helpless in front of the unplayable Niçois. And if they have also found a scorer finally launched, they will have to be reckoned with when it comes to distributing European tickets at the end of the season. Nice (7th) is back three points from the top 6. Beaten for the first time since November 13 in the Championship, Monaco (3rd) has had two defeats that hurt a lot.
The player: Moffi well and truly launched
If some were still wondering if Terem Moffi could join the Nice attacking sector, the Nigerian striker made everyone agree. Recruited at a hefty price to compensate for the departure of Andy Delort, the former Lorient player scored a nice double this Sunday. He was applauded by his supporters when he left after 81 minutes, and warmly congratulated by his coach.
Aligned in a double-point alongside Gaëtan Laborde in the 5-3-2 Nice, he was a constant poison behind the two centrals. That’s where he sneaked in twice to strike. His first two achievements with the OGCN, he who had scored 12 in 18 L1 games with Lorient. Moffi swept his first three games without being decisive and finally launched his Nice adventure.
The number: 8
Didier Digard is undefeated in his first eight Ligue 1 games (6 wins and 2 draws). Only Lucien Favre (11 games) had a better start in the top flight with Nice.