Tough times in Nice [4-0]

For their 4th outing of this league season, the Girondins travelled south to face OGC Nice. The hosts set the tone in the opening minutes, with a header from Justin Kluivert which forced a superb save from Benoit Costil (2’). Nice were just getting started, and soon enough Hicham Boudaoui dribbled past Ricardo Mangas and pulled the ball back for Justin Kluivert, who slipped it past Benoit Costil (7’, 1-0).

After ten difficult minutes, the Girondins finally began to settle into this game. Gideon Mensah put in a magnificent cross for Sékou Mara, whose header was just wide of the mark (11’). As they pushed for an equaliser, Bordeaux left themselves open to counter-attacks. Amine Gouiri latched onto a long ball, dribbled round a defender and placed a shot just over the bar (20’). The chances started to pile up for both sides, with both Rémi Oudin and Hwang Ui-Jo having a crack. On both occasions, Nice keeper Benitez showed his quality to deny the Girondins (23’ and 25’).  

With around half an hour played, Amine Gouiri laid the ball off for Justin Kluivert who waited until the last possible moment before teeing up Gouiri for Nice's second goal (2-0, 33’). With half-time fast approaching, Laurent Koscielny was reprimanded for a foul inside the box on the unstoppable Amine Gouiri. The Nice man stepped up to take the penalty, and promptly made it 3-0 to the hosts (41’). A very tough first half for the Girondins, who got caught out on the counter-attack on numerous occasions. And yet, they had enjoyed 57% of possession and produced seven chances on goal compared with the hosts' six.

Vladimir Petkovic opted for a tactical reshuffle at half time, bringing on Timothée Pembélé and Samuel Kalu for Gideon Mensah and Issouf Sissokho.  The hosts started the second half in much the same way as the first, with an early chance for new recruit Stengs. Costil had it covered (47’). After an hour of play, Bordeaux were again dominating possession but struggling to create clear chances. The tactical changes had a clear impact, with the Girondins now looking much more solid in defence on the rare occasions when Nice ventured forward.  

Petkovic went for another roll of the dice, bringing on Yacine Adli for Sékou Mara and Mehdi Zerkane for Rémi Oudin (70’). At the very end of the match, from yet another counter-attack, Kephren Thuram got the better of Benoît Costil to make it 4-0 to Nice. (85') Bordeaux will be happy to make the most of next weekend's international break to keep on working and improving, and to prepare for the next home game against RC Lens on Sunday 12th September (KO 15:00).