PLAYER RATINGS | Toulouse 2-1 Nice: Yann Gboho-inspired Toulouse inflict third defeat in four for Nice | OneFootball

Ligue 1 Uber Eats, Round 24, 03/03/24

Toulouse FC came from behind to beat OGC Nice (2-1) and increase the gap to the relegation zone, whilst Francesco Farioli’s side’s torrid run (three defeats, one draw in the last four) continues and sees them drop out of the UEFA Champions League places.

After successive defeats, Nice arrived at The Stadium needing to reverse the trend in order to reassert their Champions League credentials. However, they were under pressure for periods of the first half. Carles Martinez Novell’s pressing system has become increasingly effective as the season has progressed and it forced Marcin Bulka and the Nice defenders to go long and cede possession regularly.

However, despite limited possessions domination and limited chances, Le Gym did take the lead. Good work down the right allowed Evann Guessand to get a shot away from a tight angle. Guillaume Restes’ parried save was right into the path of Terem Moffi, who bundled past the 18-year-old goalkeeper from close range.

Guessand then went close again, but having pierced through a stand-offish Toulouse defence, he was denied by the feet of Restes. Toulouse had their chances too. Yann Gboho was Le TéFéCé’s main source of threat and his lay-off for Vincent Sierro should have yielded a better result, but the captain’s shot, unpressured from the edge of the box, was inches wide.

Perraud with a cameo to forget

Whilst Sierro couldn’t work Marcin Bulka into action, Aron Donnum could just before the break, but the Polish goalkeeper was equal to his effort from just inside the box.

Toulouse carried their momentum into the second half and the pressure finally told. Stijn Spierings forced Bulka into an impressive save after five corners in a row and just seconds later. Melvin Bard was replaced by Romain Perraud, and the Southampton loanee was called into action immediately. He wasn’t up to the task.

The full-back was dispossessed by Warren Kamanzi by the touchline. He advanced towards the box unchallenged before putting the ball across to Thijs Dallinga, who wasn’t going to miss from just six yards out. The momentum was with them and they made it count.

The goalscorer turned provider. This time it was Dallinga who played the ball across for Gboho, who out-muscled Rosario, worked a yard of space, turned and fired past Bulka. Le TéFéCé had a lead to protect and despite Mohamed-Ali Cho and Alexis Claude-Maurice going close in the dying minutes, they held on.

Toulouse win three on the bounce and pull themselves out of relegation trouble. Nice have now earned just one point in their last four games and have lost three games in that time; that is half of their losses in the entire Ligue 1 season. Previously considered one of the favourites for the UEFA Champions League places, their latest performances have halted their surge.

Nice player ratings

Marcin Bulka – 5

Melvin Bard – 5

Dante – 5

Jean-Clair Todibo – 6

Jordan Lotomba – 4

Khéphren Thuram – 3

The Frenchman has had a torrid season so far, never getting close to the heights he reached last season, which allowed him to break into Didier Deschamps’ France squad. He clumsily lost the ball inside 30 seconds and by 90 seconds into the tie, he was in the book. He is short of confidence and constantly in the block shadow, he gives the impression of hiding in games currently. Ineffective.

Pablo Rosario – 3

Hicham Boudaoui – 4

Jérémie Boga – 4

Terem Moffi – 5

In the right place at the right time, which is, of course, a sign of an instinctive striker, however, he wasted possession too often and was insufficiently efficient in his build-up play. With Guessand impressing, his place through the middle is perhaps starting to come under threat.

Evann Guessand – 7

Not the player to get the goal, but certainly the most dangerous of Nice’s attackers. The orchestrator for Moffi’s goal, he worked a great chance of his own with a mazy dribble. His overall game is stronger than that of Moffi, but he still lacks the finishing touch that will take him to the next level.

Selected Toulouse player ratings

Yann Gboho – 8

The most exciting player on the pitch, the winger is looking like one of the best signings of the January transfer window. He brought a dynamism down the left, comfortably winning his battle with Jordan Lotomba, but moved across the front line in order to influence proceedings and provide an option in behind. With five players around him, he miraculously got close to the byline and got a shot away in the first half and in the second, he got the goal that his performance deserved.

Rasmus Nicolaisen – 7

Guillaume Restes – 6

At fault for the opener but then proceeded to make up for it. His save from Claude-Maurice in the 90th minute was spectacular and effective and ultimately decisive.

Thijs Dallinga – 7

Not Dallinga’s most influential performance and he was kept largely quiet in the first half in particular, but a goal and an assist against the best defence in Ligue 1 is no insignificant feat.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle