Nantes 1–4 Nice: Cho brace and late Louchet strike deepen home side’s relegation worries
At Stade de la Beaujoire, Nice produced a ruthlessly efficient 4–1 win over Nantes in Ligue 1’s 19th round, a result that sharpens the contrast between the sides’ trajectories. M. Cho’s first-half brace, followed by goals from S. Diop and substitute T. Louchet, overwhelmed a Nantes team that had more of the ball but far less cutting edge. Mostafa Mohamed’s reply just before the interval proved only a consolation. The outcome leaves Nantes stuck in the relegation play-off place, while Nice consolidate mid-table security and edge further away from danger.
First-half analysis
The tone was set early as Nantes’ Johann Lepenant collected a yellow card for a foul on 9', a sign of the home side’s growing frustration as Nice settled quicker. Claude Puel’s team struck first on 16', when M. Cho opened the scoring, finishing a move created by right-back J. Clauss.
Nantes tried to respond but instead fell further behind. On 17', Ali Abdi went into the book for Nice, yet that did little to disrupt the visitors’ rhythm. Cho doubled the lead on 29', this time supplied by M. Sanson, giving Nice a commanding 2–0 advantage.
Nantes’ discipline wavered again on 38' as forward Matthis Abline was cautioned for a foul, and the punishment on the scoreboard followed swiftly. On 40', S. Diop added a third for Nice, leaving Ahmed Kantari’s side reeling. A lifeline arrived on 45', when centre-back C. Awaziem set up Mostafa Mohamed to pull one back, sending Nantes into half-time trailing 3–1 but with a flicker of hope.
Second half and tactical shifts
The second period began with Nice managing the game and Nantes searching for a route back without major structural changes from either coach. Nice’s midfield anchor Charles Vanhoutte picked up a yellow card for a foul on 52', underlining the visitors’ willingness to break up play and protect their lead.
Puel’s first significant tactical move came on 70'. Forward E. Wahi was withdrawn, with midfielder T. Louchet coming on, a clear sign Nice were prioritising control over further attacking thrust. Simultaneously, S. Diop, already on the scoresheet, made way for forward T. Gouveia, maintaining some attacking threat on the break while adding fresh legs.
Kantari’s response was delayed until 81', when midfielder I. Sissoko went off and was replaced by B. Deuff, a like-for-like change aimed at injecting energy in the middle. At the same moment, Puel made a defensive adjustment: Vanhoutte, on a yellow and central to Nice’s structure, was replaced by veteran defender Dante, effectively shifting the balance toward a more conservative, game-killing shape.
The pattern continued as Nantes chased and Nice managed. On 86', Sanson joined the growing list of booked Nice players for a foul, shortly before Kantari introduced Y. El Arabi for the cautioned M. Abline on 87', seeking extra penalty-box presence for a late push.
Puel then freshened his attacking midfield line on 89', withdrawing two of his stars. Cho, the game’s standout with a brace, was replaced by midfielder G. Bernardeau, while Sanson made way for T. Ndombele, adding further control and composure in the centre. The final twist came on 90', when substitute Louchet, fed by Ndombele, struck Nice’s fourth, sealing an emphatic 4–1 scoreline and underlining the effectiveness of Puel’s bench management.
Statistical deep dive
The numbers tell a story of contrasting styles. Nantes controlled 56% of the ball and attempted 446 passes to Nice’s 373, with a slightly better pass accuracy (75% to 72%). Yet that territorial control did not translate into scoreboard pressure.
Nantes fired 20 total shots, almost three times Nice’s 7, and generated an expected goals figure of 1.59 compared to Nice’s 1.12. However, the home side managed only 5 shots on target, while Nice hit 4 from just 7 attempts, highlighting the visitors’ clinical edge. Nice essentially matched Nantes’ shots on target with a fraction of the volume, converting four times from limited but high-quality situations.
In terms of discipline, Nice committed more fouls (14 to 11) and collected three yellow cards to Nantes’ two, reflecting their readiness to disrupt play and protect the lead. Nantes’ bookings for Lepenant and Abline hinted at frustration rather than controlled aggression, while Nice’s cautions often came in the context of game management.
Standings and implications
The defeat leaves Nantes in 16th place on 14 points, with a worrying goal difference of -16 after 19 matches. Their record of just three wins and 34 goals conceded, including 21 at home, underlines why they remain in the relegation play-off zone and why the pressure on Kantari will only intensify.
Nice, by contrast, move more comfortably within mid-table, sitting 13th with 21 points and a goal difference of -11. With six wins now and a second away victory of the season, Puel’s side take an important step away from the relegation scrap, suggesting that a stable, if unspectacular, campaign is within reach if this efficiency in front of goal continues.
