PLAYER RATINGS | OGC Nice 3-1 Go Ahead Eagles: fan violence mars Nice’s first Europa League win of the season | OneFootball

UEFA Europa League, Matchday 7, 22/01/26

OGC Nice registered their first points of the UEFA Europa League (3-1), easing past Go Ahead Eagles in a game marred by off-pitch events.

The Match

There was nothing on the line but pride for Nice, already eliminated from the UEL. The same did not go for Go Ahead Eagles, who still have a place in the play-offs up for grabs. And they started with the greater intent. Victor Edvardsen’s tame effort was almost diverted into Le Gym’s net by Maxime Dupé and seconds later, the Nice goalkeeper had to be alert once again, making a reflex save.

But it was instead the hosts who took the lead. Kevin Carlos should have scored but missed but just seconds later, some high pressing forced an error and the ball fell kindly for an unmarked Charles Vanhoutte inside the Go Ahead Eagles box to fire home. 

It was at the time of the goal that the game was ultimately marred by unsavoury scenes as Nice fans confronted the visitors. It took the intervention of the CRS to control the situation after several minutes of confrontations. 

Back on the pitch, Nice were in the ascendancy, a rare sight in this season’s Europa League, and they would go in two goals up thanks to a thunderbolt from Tiago Gouveia from 25 yards out. The Portuguese full-back doubled his account the other side of half-time. If the first goal was about the finish, this was about the assist, a sublime floated delivery from Mohamed-Ali Cho to the back-post. 

Go Ahead Eagles were wasteful and made poor decisions when they worked their way into the final third, but they gave themselves hope when substitute Finn Stokkers poked home first time from close range. Both sides had chances to add to the scoreline but it remained 3-1 as Nice got their first points of their campaign and earning their first win in Europeanc competition since 16th March 2023.

OGC Nice player ratings

Maxime Dupé – 5

Ali Abdi – 5

Brad-Hamilton Mantsounga – 5

Juma Bah – 6

Kojo Peprah Oppong – 6

Salis Abdul Samed – 4

Charles Vanhoutte – 5

Tiago Gouveia – 7

Not everything was perfect from Gouveia, but this was undoubtedly his best performance since his summer move. His finish for the first was excellent and he was in the right place to finish the job when set up perfectly by Cho. He wasn’t overly impactful off the ball but his contribution on it was a big reason why Le Gym finally have some points on the board in the Europa League, even if it is too little too late.

Tom Louchet – 4

Mohamed-Ali Cho – 7

Kevin Carlos – 3

It was a night, like many others, that Kevin Carlos could have been leaving with the match ball. He had the chances to do so, but once again, he was pitifully wasteful in front of goal, even if he got himself into some good positions. He really lacked any conviction on his first chance, when put through on goal by Cho, gradually edging further wide before putting a scuffed effort well wide. It set the tone for a performance that looked a lot like many of his others in a Nice shirt.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Nice