PLAYER RATINGS | OGC Nice 2-1 Monaco: Les Monégasques’ lengthy unbeaten run ends in fiesty Côte d’Azur derby | OneFootball

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Round 9, 27/10/24

OGC Nice secured a surprise 2-1 victory over AS Monaco to end their run of poor form and end their local rivals’ impressive unbeaten run in a game that turned on the contentious decision to send off Vanderson.

The Match

Monaco were in the ascendancy for much of the first half. After Takumi Minamino’s deflected cross was palmed off the line by a scrambling Marcin Bulka, Breel Embolo beat the Polish goalkeeper soon after. Nice, however, were saved by the offside flag with VAR adjudging Minamino to have been in an offside position in the build-up.

But Embolo did get the goal, beating Bulka one-on-one after being slipped in by Maghnes Akliouche. In control, Les Monégasques would, however, let the game slip from their grasp before the break. Evann Guessand, the only bright spark for Nice in the first half, rose highest to nod level just before the break.

Then deep in injury time, Vanderson was sent off for a second yellow following a mass brawl which began when he shoved Mohamed Ali-Cho off the ball after a free-kick was awarded to the Principality club. Down to 10 men, Les Monégasques didn’t crumble and they still looked to be ambitious, as Lamine Camara notably hit the underside of the crossbar.

But Nice had space and worked a flurry of chances. Many of them fell to Guesand, who couldn’t double his account, even after being put through against Majecki. Ultimately, it was a mistake that decided the match. Krépin Diatta, on at half time, massively under-hit his pass back to Majecki, allowing Gaëtan Laborde to bare down on goal and chip past the Monaco shot-stopper.

The defeat is Monaco’s first of the season and hands Paris Saint-Germain the opportunity to create a gap at the top of Ligue 1. Manchester City are now the only remaining unbeaten team in Europe’s top five leagues in all competitions this season.

Nice player ratings

Marcin Bulka – 5

Melvin Bard – 5

Moïse Bombito – 5

Mohamed Abdelmonem – 4

Ali Abdi – 4

Hicham Boudaoui – 6

Pablo Rosario – 6

Wearing the captain’s armband, his control over the game increased as it progressed, keeping things tidy and also providing a crucial ball-winner.

Tom Louchet – 4

Jérémie Boga – 4

Evann Guessand – 7

The only bright spark for Nice in the first half, he almost single-handedly heaved Nice back into this tie. Guilty of some missed chances in the second half, he was nonetheless indispensable and the key man in the surprise win.

Mohamed Ali-Cho – 5

Monaco player ratings

Radoslaw Majecki – 6

Caio Henrique – 5

Thilo Kehrer – 6

Wilfried Singo – 5

Vanderson – 3

His red card may have been harsh but he gave the referee a decision to make unnecessarily on the brink of halftime.

Lamine Camara – 5

Soungoutou Magassa – 3

All eyes were on Magassa, largely because he wasn’t ever expected to be on the pitch. He came in for Denis Zakaria, who felt muscular discomfort during the warm-up. He gave the impression of coming into the game undercooked. He was quickly carded for a clumsy tackle and then ceded possession to Rosario, allowing a big chance for Boga. Sloppy in possession, he was the obvious candidate to give way after Vanderson’s red card just before the break. Replaced by Krépin Diatta (3) at half-time, who made the fatal mistake with his under-hit backpass.

Aleksandr Golovin – 4

Takumi Minamino – 6

Maghnes Akliouche – 6

Breel Embolo – 7

GFFN | Luke Entwistle