Ligue 1: Nice Move into Top Four with Comfortable 2-0 Win Over Marseille

OGC Nice moved into the top four in Ligue 1 with a 2-0 win over Marseille, thanks to goals from Evann Guessand and Mohamed-Ali Cho.

OGC Nice maintained their unbeaten record at the Allianz Riviera in Ligue 1 this season, defeating Olympique de Marseille 2-0 to move inside the top four. The victory was fueled by goals from Evann Guessand and Mohamed-Ali Cho, with Nice now boasting six wins and three draws at home.

Guessand, Nice's top scorer, found the net in the seventh minute, thanks to a well-crafted assist from Cho. The goal was made possible by a momentary lapse in judgment from Marseille's Lilian Brassier, who initially lost possession before regaining it, only to then gift the ball to Cho. The young midfielder seized the opportunity, delivering a defense-splitting pass that allowed Guessand to confidently slot home his 10th goal of the season.

Marseille's Mason Greenwood, the league's top scorer with 12 goals, posed a significant threat to Nice's defense. Eight minutes after Guessand's opener, Greenwood came close to equalizing, but his effort was expertly saved by Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka. Despite Greenwood's best efforts, Marseille was unable to find the back of the net, and Nice sealed the win with Cho's second-half strike.

Nice gets a huge victory in the derby 🦅✨ pic.twitter.com/47BEO1thhM

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) January 26, 2025

Adrien Rabiot threatened to level the score for Marseille, but Nice's Polish goalkeeper Marcin Bułka was equal to the task, expertly redirecting the attacking midfielder's strike to safety. Marseille continued to push for an equalizer, with Quentin Merlin and Valentin Rongier both testing Bułka's reflexes in quick succession. However, the Nice shot-stopper proved up to the challenge, preserving his clean sheet with a pair of impressive saves.

The second half saw Nice further assert their dominance, with Evann Guessand turning provider to set up Mohamed-Ali Cho for the team's second goal. Cho made no mistake, firing the ball beyond the reach of Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli to give Nice a comfortable 2-0 lead. Marseille refused to give up, with Rabiot once again calling Bułka into action with a shot from deep inside the area. However, Bułka was equal to the task, expertly keeping the ball out of the net to ensure Nice's clean sheet remained intact.

The victory marked another successful outing for Nice at the Allianz Riviera, with Franck Haise's side moving one point above LOSC Lille and into the UEFA Champions League qualification positions. Meanwhile, Marseille's defeat on the road left them 10 points adrift of current league leaders and defending champions Paris Saint-Germain. The loss was only Marseille's second away defeat of the season, but it could prove costly in their pursuit of the Ligue 1 title.