PLAYER RATINGS | OGC Nice 1-0 Nantes: Franck Haise’s side return to winning ways | OneFootball

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Matchday 4, 13/09/25

OGC Nice returned to winning ways thanks to a goal from Jérémie Boga, which was enough to see off FC Nantes (1-0).

The Match

Nice would have come into this match knowing what awaited them: a low-block so compact that you could throw a rug over all 10 outfield dangers, and danger of being caught in transition.

However, Le Gym would have been encouraged when Kevin Carlos got a clear sight of goal in the second minute, latching onto a good ball from Kojo Peprah Oppong, but failing to put it either side of Anthony Lopes, who made the save.

Squandering chances by shooting straight at the goalkeeper would be a recurring theme. Hicham Boudaoui did exactly that from another Oppong close when unmarked inside the box, whilst at the other end, Hyunseok Hong squandered a glorious chance to put Les Canaris ahead against the run of play. But unmarked, he could only put his header into the grateful arms of Yehvann Diouf.

Sofiane Diop hit the post with a shot from range, whilst Jérémie Boga’s run into  the box ended with a harmless shot into the side netting from a tight angle. Kevin Carlos had Le Gym’s best chance but once again looked bereft of confidence as he tried to turn Charles Vanhoutte’s excellent ball over the top into a goal, hitting straight at Lopes… again.

Despite controlling for large periods, with long phases of possession inside the Nantes half, there was always danger posed by Nantes, who in Matthis Abline, Mostafa Mohamed and Yassine Benhattab, have the individual quality to create chances in transition and take them.

Abline had had the most joy in the first half, getting the better of his battle with Oppong, but it was Nice who saw their possession converted into a tangible advantage. Vanhoutt, excellent on debut, won the ball back, laying off Boga, who still had half the length of the pitch to run. But Vanhoutte, in continuing his run around the outside, meant that the Nantes defender charged with stopping Boga had to back off and back off, allowing the Ivorian inside the box and to finish from a tight angle.

Terem Moffi, on for the ineffective Kevin Carlos, almost doubled the lead with a header, well saved by Lopes, whilst Boga also went close to doubling his account with a sharply-taken header, which glanced just wide of the far post.

Having taken the lead, Nantes had to commit more bodies to the attacking effort. Le Gym, however, were well organised and conceded no big chances of note, but on the counter, Nice had chances of their own, with Moffi heading over, Isak Jansson seeing an effort well saved by Lopes and Morgan Sanson seeing a goal ruled out for a narrow offside.

However, Nantes failed to threaten and so Nice logically held on to keep their first clean sheet of the season and return to winning ways after a concerning 3-1 defeat to Le Havre AC last time out.

OGC Nice player ratings

Yehvann Diouf – 5

Dante – 6

Kojo Peprah Oppong – 4

Juma Bah – 4

Melvin Bard – 7

Hicham Boudaoui – 6

Charles Vanhoutte – 8

A near-perfect debut. He looked like he had been in that midfield for years, dominating his sector and directing those around him. He had one assist, he should have had two, and he just brought an overall serenity, whilst also allowing Boudaoui to buzz around and play his game. The Belgian looks like an excellent pick-up.

Jonathan Clauss – 6

Jérémie Boga – 6

Kevin Carlos – 3

The Spaniard lacked presence up front. That is not to say that he didn’t have chances. He had Nice’s best of the first half but could not take it with confidence, taking a poor first touch into traffic before failing to beat Lopes one-on-one. An unconvincing start for Kevin Carlos, who is clearly in need of a goal.

Sofiane Diop – 4

Selected Nantes player ratings

Matthis Abline – 5

Tylel Tati – 5

Anthony Lopes – 7

Granted, Nice’s attackers made it easy for him at times, shooting straight at him on numerous occasions. But he did make seven saves on the day, including an impressive one from Moffi to keep his side in the game.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Nice