THE MATCH

It looked like Nice might live to regret squandering a golden chance to take the lead late in the first half, when Gaëtan Laborde blazed a 37th-minute penalty over the bar after Boudaoui had been fouled in the box by Alidu Seidu.

Yet they got the breakthrough in the 74th minute as substitute Romain Perraud’s low centre from the left was turned in from close range by Algerian international Boudaoui for his second goal of the campaign.

Clermont had won away to fellow strugglers Olympique Lyonnais last weekend to move off the bottom of the table but they could not break down Nice’s watertight defence and slumped to a fourth defeat in five home games this season. The closest they came to scoring was in the 90th minute when a long-range strike by Habib Keita shaved the post on its way past with visiting goalkeeper Marcin Bułka beaten.

Nice remain unbeaten this season and Francesco Farioli’s side sit two points clear of local rivals AS Monaco at the top before the principality outfit visit LOSC Lille on Sunday. Clermont, meanwhile, are certain to end the weekend in the relegation places.

THE PLAYER: Hicham Boudaoui

The midfielder was the matchwinner for Nice as he arrived untracked into the penalty box to score at the far post. That was after he had won the first-half penalty which Laborde missed. Boudaoui also scored the only goal when Nice won 1-0 at FC Metz in their last away outing, just before the recent international break.

THE STAT: 4

That is the number of goals Nice have conceded this season in 10 games. They have kept seven clean sheets in their last eight matches. Les Aiglons have won 1-0 in four of their last five outings. Meanwhile, Clermont have lost four out of five games at home at the Stade Gabriel-Montpied this season, the exception being their goalless draw with Paris Saint-Germain.

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