OGC Nice missed the opportunity to move third in Ligue 1 as Nantes secured a mightily impressive 2-1 victory at the Allianz Riviera, extending their unbeaten record in H2Hs to seven matches (W4, D3).

Having failed to win any of their last three league matches (D1, L2), Nice knew a fast start was needed against their mid-table visitors.

However, it was Nantes who came flying out the blocks, and after Matthis Abline spurned an early chance, Douglas Augusto opened the scoring in the 11th minute, firing home from the edge of the box beyond Marcin Bulka for his third goal of the campaign.

Undeterred by that early setback, the hosts responded with an equaliser just three minutes later when Ali Abdi raced onto Hicham Boudaoui’s through ball and finished clinically under the body of Anthony Lopes.

Armed with the momentum, Nice threatened to take the lead as Gaëtan Laborde saw a strike smartly saved by Lopes and Jeremie Boga struck the post from range, but it was Nantes who regained the advantage in the 38th minute, with Abline reacting fastest inside the area to drive an angled finish into the net.

Determined to find a route back into the contest, Nice dominated the early stages of the second half, but despite their unrelenting pressure, the visitors’ rearguard held firm, as Jonathan Clauss and Laborde directed efforts wastefully wide of the target.

The hosts continued to probe for a leveller with time ticking into the final half-hour. However, Boudaoui came to Nantes’ rescue, thwarting Badredine Bouanani twice in quick succession.

The one-way traffic showed no signs of slowing down in the closing stages as Franck Haise’s men desperately tried to salvage a point.

Boga powered a close-range header wide with 15 minutes remaining and that ultimately proved to be the closest the Eaglets came to an equaliser as Nantes earned just their fourth win of 2025. As for Nice, they’ll be keen to bounce back at Strasbourg next weekend after a third defeat in four league outings.