Unseen defensive anchor steadies Nantes against Toulouse | OneFootball

Nicolas Cozza anchored Nantes in a 0-0 draw with Toulouse, setting the tone with front-foot defending and crisp distribution in a tense first half.

Early on, the defender won key duels and an aerial contest to quieten Toulouse's right side, helping Les Canaris build territory without getting exposed.

From there, he progressed play reliably, completing 14 of 17 passes with three into the final third to keep Nantes on the front foot. His positioning also yielded two recoveries and an interception as he read danger early.

The numbers underline his calming influence: 24 touches, one aerial win, two recoveries and one interception, while Toulouse were limited to two attempts with only one testing the goalkeeper. Cozza's tidy work let team-mates commit forward without losing defensive balance.

The display capped a disciplined night for Les Canaris' back line. They finish 17th in Ligue 1. Toulouse end the campaign ninth.