PLAYER RATINGS | Lille 2-2 Nice: Les Dogues’ fight for third collapses in second-half dismay | OneFootball

Ligue 1 Uber Eats, Round 34, 19/05/24

There was always going to be a strange feeling to the game as Lille OSC hosted OGC Nice on the final day of the season. It was hard to ignore the sense that this clash would likely mark the end of two exciting projects that had been building in France, as both Lille and Nice will likely be on the hunt for two new managers.

Francesco Farioli and Paulo Fonseca have been linked with moves away from Ligue 1, as Ajax and AC Milan respectively have begun circling the waters. There have only been soft denials disputing the rumours and in the case of Fonseca, a refusal to sign a contract extension beyond the end of this campaign.

Still, there was a game to be played, even if both clubs had secured European football, and for Lille, there remained a slight permutation as they needed to record a victory to lock in an automatic place in next season’s Champions League. Something that cannot be taken for granted, as French teams have a poor track record when asked to run the gambit of the qualifiers.

Freedom ‘24

Nice looked as if they were playing with the freedom of knowing nothing truly mattered. The pressure was off and a bright start was rewarded with an early goal as Jérémie Boga in the tenth minute slalomed down the wing before cutting inside and dinking an inch-perfect cross for Gaëtan Laborde to finish.

Nerves have begun to creep into Lille’s play in recent weeks and a defence that has been so rock solid for the majority of the season has become leaky. Bafodé Diakité was constantly dragged central from his position as right-back leaving acres of space for Boga to attack.

Their attack which usually flows with a hypnotic rhythm felt heavy and out of time for the early exchanges taking about twenty minutes before it started to look a little more familiar. However, they rarely threatened a Nice side that were comfortable fending off Lille’s forays into the penalty box, and as the halftime whistle was blown the crowd echoed with their disapproval.

30 years of friendship

Fonseca looked on furiously after a delay was caused when the Lille and Nice supporters in unison lit flares to celebrate 30 years of friendship between the two ultra groups. The fireworks from the Lille-end smothered the pitch in the white fog of mutual respect.

His demeanour hardly improved even as Hákon Haraldsson found the leveller. Angel Gomes had looked the most dangerous player for Les Dogues as he attempted to conduct his orchestra. His pass over the top of the Nice defence found Haraldsson who took advantage of a scrambling defence.

Fireworks once again lit up the Stade Pierre Mauro and another delay. Benjamin André attempted to calm down the ultras. Work was still to be done, especially with Stade Brestois going two goals ahead in their game against Toulouse FC.

The warning worked and there was no third instance as Lille found their second. Benjamin André latched onto the end of a routine Edon Zhegrova corner kick. André looked far from the favourite to find the ball as Pablo Rosario and Khéphren Thuram surrounded the area. However, his running start meant he had the momentum that was lacking from the two taller defenders.

Another pause in the game as VAR checked a penalty incident where it looked like the substitute Gabriel Gudmundsson dragged down Nice’s Antoine Mendy, but to Lille’s delight, the referee decided against what looked like a clear foul.

However, Lille’s hopes would collapse in the blink of an eye. Jordan Lotomba scored an equaliser before a horrendous set of errors saw Daouda Traoré lob Vito Mannone, although this was fortunately ruled offside. The game had been in Les Dogues’ hands and within minutes they had dropped out of the top three and would have to face the dreaded qualifiers. The final whistle blew and the Lille players fell to the floor.

Lille Player Ratings

Vito Mannone, 3

Ismaily, 4

Leny Yoro, 4

Alexsandro, 4

Bafodé Diakité, 2 – A night to forget for the fullback. At fault for two goals. Constantly dragged out of position. He was inconsolable at the final whistle hiding his face as he wept into the pitch. It was impossible not to feel sorry for a young man who has done fantastic across the breadth of this season – one poor game should not negate the hard work he’s done which has helped Lille reach this stage.

Benjamin André, 7– The captain looked as if he was going to be the hero on the night when he put Lille into the lead. However, a late collapse means that the midfielder was left wondering what if.

Nabil Bentaleb, 5

Hákon Haraldsson, 6 – Replaced by Gabriel Gudmundsson. The goal scorer had a quiet night outside of his involvement in the equaliser. A few heavy touches let him down.

Angel Gomes, 8 – Replaced by Rémy Cabella. It appeared a strange decision from Paulo Fonseca as Angel Gomes looked like the most dangerous player on the pitch for Lille. He constantly delivered passes into dangerous areas but was let down by a team that looked incapable of taking advantage of his vision.

Edon Zhegrova, 7 – Replaced by Ivan Cavaleiro. Sent off while he was on the bench.

Jonathan David, 4

Nice Player Ratings

Marcin Bułka, 5

Jean-Clair Todibo, 4 – Repaced by Daouda Traoré.

Pablo Rosario, 5

Antoine Mendy, 5

Jérémie Boga, 8 – Replaced by Mohamed-Ali Cho. A wonderful performance from the winger. He was a constant threat down the wing, and like Angel Gomes, it was a surprise when the winger was eventually replaced.

Khéphren Thuram, 5 – Impressive first half, however, he was partly culpable alongside Pablo Rosario for allowing Lille back into the game.

Hicham Boudaoui, 6

Tom Louchet, 6

Alexis Claude Maurice, 5 – Replaced by Jordan Lotomba.

Evann Guessand, 4 – Replaced by Terem Moffi.

Gaëtan Laborde, 6 – Replaced by Aliou Balde. The goal-scorer had a quiet evening after a few chances in the first half looked like the striker was going to make it an incredibly uncomfortable night for Lille.

GFFN | Nick Hartland