Nice's European Hopes Dented as Lyon Secure 2-0 Win in Ligue 1

Lyon ended Nice's unbeaten home record in Ligue 1 with a 2-0 victory, thanks to goals from substitutes Rayan Cherki and Ernest Nuamah.

Lyon secured a 2-0 victory over OGC Nice at the Allianz Riviera, ending the hosts' unbeaten home record in Ligue 1 this season. This win marked Paulo Fonseca's first league victory following his nine-month suspension. Both teams are vying for European qualification, with Nice poised to reach the UEFA Champions League.

Lyon gets it done on the road against Nice 🦁💯 pic.twitter.com/24PfnlQ8OM

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) March 9, 2025

Nice entered the match on a four-game winning streak in the French top flight and dominated the opening 45 minutes. Despite their superiority, clear-cut opportunities were scarce, and the half ended goalless. Lucas Perri made a notable save, clawing Mohamed Ali-Cho's flick away from the top corner. Gaëtan Laborde, who has scored nine Ligue 1 goals this season, had the best chance of the half, heading against the post from close range.

Lyon struggled to create chances in the first half, managing only a single shot that failed to test Marcin Bułka. After the restart, Lyon finally began to test the Polish goalkeeper, but Bułka comfortably held Thiago Almada's daisy-cutter. Their next opportunity was a promising one, but Corentin Tolisso was unable to direct his header towards goal.

At the other end, Lucas Perri made a brilliant reflex stop to prevent Dante from scoring from close range. However, Nice's attacking threat diminished in the second half, and they were largely toothless. Lyon eventually capitalized on their opponents' lack of momentum, with super-sub Rayan Cherki scoring to seal the victory.

Lyon, still without Paulo Fonseca due to his suspension following a confrontation with referee Benoit Millot in their previous match, secured a breakthrough goal through substitute Rayan Cherki. Cherki's low finish came after a well-timed pass from Thiago Almada, and it marked a clinical end to a period of sustained pressure.

Next round: Marseille (2) at PSG (1) 👀📊 pic.twitter.com/V0cmMvr4TI

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) March 9, 2025

The second goal was a spectacular effort from another substitute, Ernest Nuamah. Nuamah unleashed a powerful shot from 30 yards out, firing the ball into the top corner and leaving Marcin Bulka with no chance of making a save. This strike sealed the victory for Lyon, who ultimately saw out the match to claim a 2-0 win.

The victory marked Lyon's third consecutive head-to-head win over Nice, a feat they last achieved in 2014. As a result, Lyon moved up to sixth place in the table, now trailing Nice by just four points. Nice missed an opportunity to consolidate their position in the top three, especially given AS Monaco's 1-1 draw with Toulouse. A crucial clash between Nice and Monaco is scheduled for the end of March, with significant implications for the race to secure a spot in Europe's premier club competition next season.