NICE, France – The OGC Nice football team encountered another setback on Friday, March 14, 2025, as they settled for a disappointing 1-1 draw against AJ Auxerre during the 26th round of Ligue 1 at their home ground, the Allianz Riviera.
Hopeful to solidify their grip on the third spot of the league table, Nice aimed to secure all three points against the eleventh-placed Auxerre. Early on, the match appeared to be evenly matched, with minimal threat posed by either side. Despite some attempts to break the stalemate, it wasn’t until the 38th minute when Nice finally found the net.
Evann Guessand, the rising star who had already showcased his impressive form this season, headed the ball home from close range, bringing the score to 1-0. This marked Guessand’s eleventh goal of the campaign, confirming his pivotal role for the team as he continues to be involved in numerous scoring opportunities.
Following the halftime break, the match shifted gears as Nice sought to build on their lead. Among the leading attackers, Melvin Bard had several chances to extend the advantage but was unable to convert, with his shots narrowly missing the target. The atmosphere at the stadium began to turn tense as Nice's inability to secure their lead became palpable.
With tensions high, the situation took a turn for the worse when Melvin Bard received his marching orders after a reckless challenge, leaving Nice to finish the match with only ten players. His sending off occurred just minutes before Auxerre capitalized on their numerical advantage.
Deeply entrenched within the match, Auxerre found momentum as the clock wound down. Just when it seemed like Nice would hold on for the victory, Florian Ayé struck the decisive blow for Auxerre. With just seconds remaining on the clock, Ayé's forceful shot from inside the box beat Nice’s goalkeeper Marcin Bulka, leveling the match at 1-1 and leaving the Nice supporters stunned.
This draw marks yet another point dropped for Nice, who now sit firmly third in the league with 47 points, two points behind Olympique de Marseille, who are currently second. The frustration was evident as this was the second match where Nice failed to secure victory at home following their recent 2-0 loss against Lyon just days prior.
For Auxerre, this result serves as a creditable point; they remain 12th on the table with 32 points and continue to defy expectations, having not lost to any of the top three teams this season, demonstrating their resilience throughout the league.
Looking forward, both teams will now gear up for their upcoming matches. Nice's next challenge will arrive swiftly as they face off against rivals AS Monaco on March 29, 2025, at 21:05. Meanwhile, Auxerre will be up against Montpellier the very next day on March 30, 2025, at 17:15, as they aim to build on this positive momentum.
Fans of Nice and supporters of football alike will be watching closely to see how both teams react to their respective challenges as the season approaches its latter stages.