(Ligue 1 2023/2024): Highlights NICE - REIMS

Nice work on their answer to the Allianz, with both surely aiming for the full three points as they battled for European football next season. The two teams perhaps came into the match in different moods though. The hosts coming off a 1-0 loss to Nantes, their first of the season, whilst their visitors had bounced back from back-to-back losses with a 2-1 win over Strasbourg. Nice manager Francesco Ferraioli has been one of the major storylines this season, leading Les Aiglons into an unlikely title race with Paris Saint-Germain. This side needed a win to keep pace with the Parisians after that first loss of the season. They had two good opportunities to take the lead. First, a ball across the box from Tere Moffi, just beyond the outstretched leg of Gaetan Laborde. And then an even bigger chance for Laborde, as he robbed Joseph Akumu of the ball in the area. This time opted to shoot from a narrow angle, but failed to test Evan Dues. There's an equally big chance down the other end. Captain Younis Abdelhamid finding himself totally unmarked from a free kick. Failing to make contact in discussion beforehand. There's Teddy Touma, one straight from the training ground, working perfectly, except for the finish. So somehow goalless at the halfway point. The other side had looked capable of applying consistent pressure, but the quality lacking a little in the final third. Laborde always looked the bright spark. And he would finally be rewarded for his endeavour. Ten minutes after the restart. A long ball forwards. Partially cleared, but Laborde with space. Too much space and too much time to drive at the Reims defence and unleash a thunderous strike from the edge of the area, which clipped the bar on its way into the back of the net. Finally, his 75th Ligue 1 Uber Eats goal after a drought of nine games in the top flight. He scores his 75th in his 250th game and in some style. Will Stills men responded, applying period pressure. Came close to earning them an equaliser when Junior Ito struck from a similar position to Laborde. He's trying to play out from the back, but playing themselves into trouble. However, unlike the knee striker, Ito's effort came back off the bar. Head in hands. Close call. He's boasted the best defence in the top European leagues coming into the game, having conceded just five all season. They were finally breached with just over ten minutes remaining. Ito's floated cross into the area found Abdelhamid, who leapt above the home defence and made amends for that earlier miss. No other defender has scored more goals than Abdelhamid in the French top flight this season. Their joy was short-lived, however, as the hosts almost immediately regained their advantage within four minutes. The ball worked out to the right. And Jeremy Bogut, with a reasonably well-struck effort, was straight at Juve. But the goalkeeper with a howler didn't matter to Bogut. He would celebrate the winner, but not one. Juve will want to watch back. Head in hands for a different reason. A more important one, perhaps. That would prove to be a fatal blow for the visitors. Final chance of the game went the way of Nice. Didn't quite sneak inside the far post, but it wouldn't matter. France slumped to a third defeat from their last four league matches. Whilst Nice move back to within four points of the leaders.