Andy Delort was Nice's matchwinner as the Coupe de France finalists secured a 1-0 win at Bordeaux on Sunday that keeps them in the hunt for a top-three finish and leaves their opponents closer to relegation.
THE MATCH
Bordeaux had conceded 84 goals before kick-off, the most in the French top flight at this stage of the season since Paris-based outfit Red Star shipped 87 in 34 games in the mid-1960s. David Guion's team had thrown away a 2-0 and 3-2 lead to lose 5-3 to Nantes last weekend; the hosts, who started the game second from bottom, looked there for the taking.
Fifth-placed Nice were desperate for points having seen both Rennes and Monaco — the teams directly ahead of them in the table — win and open up a four-point gap. Christophe Galtier's side very nearly took an early lead through Kasper Dolberg, but after the Denmark international forward had been teed up by Justin Kluivert, he saw his shot cleared off the line by Gideon Mensah (10').
It took a block from Joshua Guilavogui to stop a Delort volley that might have sorely tested Benoît Costil (22') before Dolberg flashed a shot just wide (24') as Nice, who had not won in six away games, sought to seize the initiative.
Bordeaux were living dangerously, but Hwang Ui-Jo forced Walter Benitez into action before the break after the South Korea international forward had been played in by Mensah. The Nice goalkeeper was very quickly out of his goal to smother, even if he would also have been saved by the offside flag (39').
After Yacine Adli had miscued a clearance, Delort shot just wide (43') as Bordeaux appeared determined to give Nice a helping hand. Melvin Bard fired narrowly past the target (52') as the visitors restarted with renewed verve.
Costil was then called into action to keep out Khéphren Thuram's close-range effort (59') before he was beaten 16 minutes from time. Bard and Thuram were both involved in the build-up that led to the ball breaking for an unmarked Delort, who fired home his 13th league goal of the season (74').
The well-travelled forward flung himself at an Amine Gouiri cross, but could only direct his header across goal (82'). Bilal Brahimi should have scored a second after Jordan Lotomba's shot had rebounded to him off a post; the winter arrival from Angers skied his shot, but Nice still warmed up for next Saturday's Coupe de France date with Nantes at the Stade de France with a win that keeps them right in the hunt for European qualification.
THE PLAYER: Andy Delort
The summer signing from Montpellier has scored so many crucial goals for Nice this season, this one is right up there among the most important. Nice were struggling to make the breakthrough, but again their experienced striker was in the right place at the right time to earn a crucial three points.
THE STAT: 7
This was Nice's first away win in Ligue 1 Uber Eats in seven attempts.
Elsewhere, Wissam ben Yedder scored his 21st goal of the season as Monaco won 2-0 at home to Angers to draw level on points with third-placed Rennes again. Brest continued their good form, winning a third successive match to leave Clermont just two points above the bottom three — the Bretons scoring both goals in a 2-0 victory in the space of two second-half minutes through Lilian Brassier and Steve Mounié. Montpellier came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Metz — the home side found the net twice in the closing ten minutes, including an equaliser from Elye Wahi one minute into added time. Metz are now six points off the relegation/promotion play-off spot while Lorient are still three points clear despite their 2-1 home defeat to Reims. Nigerian striker Terem Moffi got the hosts' goal, his eighth of the season.
