PLAYER RATINGS | OGC Nice 3-2 Lyon: Melvin Bard nets against former club as OL slump to back-to-back defeats | OneFootball

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Matchday 8, 18/10/25

OGC Nice inflicted a second consecutive defeat on Olympique Lyonnais (3-2), who, having not conceded with 10 men on the pitch prior to the last gameweek, have now conceded five goals in their last two Ligue 1 games.

The Match

It was a lethargic start from Les Gones, who were punished by one of their own. Late to every ball, Nice broke through with ease. It was Sofiane Diop who had time to pick out Melvin Bard at the far post, who struck home from a tight angle; Dominik Greif should have done better.

Highly efficient at the other end, Nice had to ‘suffer’ for long periods. It was Lyon who dominated the ball and territory, but who insisted on peppering the box with crosses, despite their lack of a target man; Martín Satriano, consequently, was largely peripheral.

However, it was from one of 35 crosses in the first half that OL got their equaliser. Adam Karabec’s corner was flicked on by Ruben Kluivert at the near post and headed home by Pavel Sulc at the far post. Simple. But seconds later, Le Gym thought they had a glorious chance to retake the lead when Mohamed-Ali Cho was brought down inside the box by Corentin Tolisso, only for VAR to find the most marginal of offsides in the build-up.

However, somewhat against the run of play, Nice did retake the lead before the break. A nice interchange in the midfield carved open Lyon, allowing Nice to attack the back line. It was Jonathan Clauss this time with the cross, Jérémie Boga with the header at the back post, which went across the face of goal and was turned in by Diop from the tightest of angles.

The game, in the balance, hinged on a two-minute period. Lyon had a penalty at one end, awarded for a Charles Vanhoutte handball, but Ainsley Maitland-Niles missed it, striking too close to Yehvann Diouf. One minute later and Nice had the ball in the back of the net themselves. It was another sweeping move. It was Clauss with the cut-back and Hicham Boudaoui with the first-time finish.

Le Gym were more solid defensively, better organised, and better disciplined than in recent weeks, aided by the lack of a target-man to contend with, and, with a favourable game state, they settled well in a low-block, allowing little space.

However, there was to be late drama. In the final moments, Nice sat too deep, allowing balls into the box and with the likes of Moussa Niakhaté coming on, there was height. A deflected cross came off one of the smaller men on the pitch, Sulc, who knew little about his second headed goal of the game. It set up a frantic final two minutes, but Nice held on.

OGC Nice player ratings

Yehvann Diouf – 7

Really shaky up to the last match against Monaco, his derby-day performance looks to have given him confidence. Still too ‘flappy’ at corners and from crosses, he is proving decisive with his shot-stopping, and his distribution has greatly improved. He is now much closer to the level that we saw him at Stade de Reims.

Dante – 6

Kojo Peprah Oppong – 7

Antoine Mendy – 6

Melvin Bard – 6

Charles Vanhoutte – 5

Hicham Boudaoui – 7

The Algerian has an incredible engine and just doesn’t stop covering ground. In recent months, he has also been more efficient in the final third and he showed that once again with a really nice instinctive finish.

Jonathan Clauss – 5

Jérémie Boga – 4

Mohamed-Ali Cho – 6

Sofiane Diop – 7

Often highly criticised since his move to Nice, he has been excellent in recent weeks. After his brace against former club Monaco, he was on the scoresheet again here, and it was his ball in the opening minutes that set-up Bard to get his side on the front foot.

Lyon player ratings

Dominik Greif – 4

Abner – 3

Ruben Kluivert – 2

Clinton Mata – 4

Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 3

Tyler Morton – 5

Corentin Tolisso – 5

Malick Fofana – 4

Pavel Sulc – 7

He is far from the tallest person on the pitch, but to score two headed closes certainly shows a certain striker’s instinct. He was afforded little space to influence procedings due to Nice’s compactness.

Adam Karabec – 3

Martin Satriano – 3

Another match on the periphery for Satriano, whose lack of presence really showed in this game. There is, naturally, a striker problem at Lyon, given their summer sales, and Satriano certainly doesn’t look to be a solution.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Nice