(Ligue 1 2023/2024): Highlights NICE - CLERMONT
Nice were searching for a return to the form they showed earlier in the campaign
when they welcomed Clermont to the Allianz Riviera.
Francesco Faraglioni's men have spent most of the season in the top two,
not briefly looking like title contenders.
Picked up just four points in 2024, winning one, drawing one and losing three.
Some find themselves just one point above fifth and three above sixth.
The European adventure next season suddenly looking far less certain.
Clermont, however, would kill for those kinds of problems,
having dropped to rock bottom after managing just one win in their previous 11 league games.
He was the hosts who dominated most of the early exchanges,
with Hicham Boudaoui dragging a shot just wide of the near post.
Despite possessing plenty of pace in attack,
Clermont didn't show enough quality on the ball and did little to trouble
the division's meanest defence in the early stages.
Villa-Utoba's scuffed volley is being gathered up by Manchin Buka.
Alexis Claude-Marie, Steph-Claude-Marie Dior into action.
The other end.
Nice change of direction.
The shot straight at the keeper.
It was the underdog visitors who finished the half the strongest
and should have taken the lead.
Perhaps not once, but twice.
Mises' insistence on playing out from the back nearly ended in disaster.
Dante bowed out by his goalkeeper.
Not the final time.
Dramatic events in stoppage time would ultimately make the headlines.
A clumsy challenge from the Nice captain, St-Germain-Nicholson, tumbling.
Initially a penalty given, but after VAR,
the referee would eventually point to the spot.
However, Buka coming out on top with a big stop to deny the Jamaican
and spare the blushes of the Brazilian.
He perceives his third penalty this season,
a joint highest tally in Europe's top five leagues.
With their opponents at the break for a league high 15th time this season,
Nice came out with a bit more determination
to make the most of their escape the side of halftime.
Back underway.
The first notable chance of the second half would fall for Evanguesson.
Couldn't, however, find a way past.
Marie Dior from close range was a tight angle.
Keeper coming out effectively.
It's a narrow set angle.
Further, he nearly came out too far.
Shortly after, though,
outside his box to make two tackles in quick succession.
He's playing as a sweeper.
At the other end, Buka denied Alan Virginius as the keepers
continued to come out on top.
He's promised to revitalise the home attack.
Virginius, three shots in total, their highest tally in a match this season.
The goal would never come.
The shots, intrusive and rarely threatened.
Pablo Rosario with a header over the top.
And then Teran Mofi with a shot from range.
It was, to be enough, carried away by Dior.
And that would be that.
Goalless for the final whistle.
Nice looking a long way from the side who were top of the pile in November.
Failed to score for the third time in four games.
Slipped off the podium.
Clermont remain bottom, but at least draw a level on points with Metz.