Nice clinches narrow victory against Reims, climbing to third in Ligue 1

Nice maintained their remarkable unbeaten streak against Stade de Reims, extending it to 13 matches with a tense 1-0 triumph at Allianz Riviera. This victory keeps Les Aiglons firmly in contention for an automatic berth in next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Coming into this match on the back of a high, having made history as the first French club to defeat Paris Saint-Germain in the league this season with a 3-1 win at Parc des Princes last Friday, Nice were eager to capitalize on the opportunity to play before their rivals this weekend, hoping to apply pressure.

Prior to the match, Manager Franck Haise expressed confidence in his squad’s potential, stating they are “capable of great things.” Although they struggled to find their rhythm in the first half, they opened the scoring after 15 minutes. A poorly cleared ball from the Reims defence fell to Morgan Sanson, who deftly slotted it into an open net for his third goal in just his second start of the season.

Aside from the goal, the first half offered little excitement as both teams managed just one shot on target each. Reims’ dismal history in this fixture clearly weighed on their minds, hampering their ability to pose a significant threat.

With a slender 1-0 lead at half-time, the hosts were eager to continue their momentum after the break. Although Haise’s men have only been defeated twice at home in Ligue 1 this season, those losses occurred within their last four outings, and they didn’t look particularly convincing against their struggling opponents.

Home supporters may have been anxious, considering their side’s recent six matches had featured goals from both teams, yet Les Aiglons offered little threat of securing a second goal. Their worries increased when, with just over 20 minutes left, Valentin Atangana found himself unmarked in front of goal but stumbled, sending his close-range shot over the bar.

Despite late pressure from the Red and Whites, Nice managed to fend them off, securing a win that temporarily propels them into third place. Meanwhile, Reims will have to bide their time for the mathematical confirmation of their Ligue 1 safety, sitting in 13th and five points clear of the relegation zone with two games still to play.

For further details on the match, click here.