PLAYER RATINGS | OGC Nice 2-1 Strasbourg: Jonathan Clauss completes comeback win for Le Gym

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Round 6, 11/10/26

Having failed to win a Ligue 1 game at home in almost a year, OGC Nice have now won two in a row thanks to their comeback against RC Strasbourg Alsace (2-1) secured by Jonathan Clauss’ late strike.

The Match

The Allianz Riviera was in a boredom-enduced lull until Dario Essugo’s opener just moments before half-time. There was little rhythm and even less quality. Nice had the ball in the back of the net twice, but Mohammed Amoura was visibly offisde on both occasions. Le Gym, looking to build on a win against Lille OSC last time out, fashioned little else, but the visitors were equally lacking in inspiration.

But contrary to expectation, there would be a goal before half time and it would come courtesy of Essugo, on his first start for Strasbourg since joining on loan from Chelsea. The Portuguese midfielder found space on the edge of the box and drilled an effort off the inside of Yehvann Diouf’s right post. Nice were awoken and fashioned their first real chance, Clauss getting on the end of a Hicham Boudaoui backheel and forcing Filip Jorgensen into action for the first time.

The Chelsea loanee was beaten on the stroke of half time, and like Diouf at the other end, there was nothing that he could do about it. A mindless ball out from the Strasbourg defence was gratefully collected by Gauthier Hein, who lined up his cross. He didn’t find a teammate but didn’t have to as Pape Bemba Diop headed onto the inside of his post and past Jorgensen.

Building on their momentum, it was all Nice upon the return from the dressing rooms. Jorgensen pulled off a stunning double save to twice deny Amoura and when he was beaten by the third effort, Karim Coulibaly was there on the line to deny Jonathan Clauss’ header. Elye Wahi, yet to show last season’s form, should have then done better with a free header at the near post but couldn’t register a shot on target.

Strasbourg’s lack of creativity continued to be an issue and it wasn’t remedied by the arrivals of Gio Reyna and Jacobo Ortega, nor by switching the usually bright Gessime Yassine onto the right wing. And once Nice took the lead once again through Jonathan Clauss’ thundered effort off the underside of the bar, the space to create wasn’t afforded by Pantaloni’s men.

Nice player ratings

Yehvann Diouf – 5

Xavier Mandza – 4

The least convincing performance of the season from the academy product. He struggled to handle Samuel Amo Ameyaw in the opening stages and was less calm on the ball, losing the ball cheaply on several occasions.

Youssouf Ndayishimiye – 5

Mohamed Abdelmonem – 5

Niels Nkounkou – 4

Axel Witsel – 4

Djibril Coulibaly – N/A

Replaced by Hicham Boudaoui (6) in the 37th minute. Ostracised and seemingly on the way out over the summer, he showed that he can still play an important role. The midfielder showcased his ball-carrying ability and was especially valuable in the closing stages.

Jonathan Clauss – 7

He kept his right-hand side locked down throughout, forcing Yassine to switch wings in the second half. He also provided attacking momentum, linked up well with Hein (again) and got the winner.

Mohammed Amoura – 6

Elye Wahi – 3

The Ivory Coast international is not even close to hitting the high standards that he set during last season’s loan spell. He was either offisde, wasteful, or a combination of the two. His header early in the second half in particular was exactly the kind of chance that he was taking last season.

Gauthier Hein – 6

Strasbourg player ratings

Filip Jorgensen – 6

Oso – 3

The Spaniard was overrun during the opening exchanges. Clauss and Hein ran circles around him. The equaliser would come down his side, and there wasn’t any upside on the ball to compensate for it. A lack of execution meant that he was very ineffective in the final third.

Karim Coulibaly – 5

Jeyland Mitchell – 5

Genesis Antwi – 5

Pape Bemba Diop – 4

Dario Essugo – 6

A first start and a first goal for Essugo. His strike off the inside of the post was the first moment of real quality in the game. He was committed in the duels and tidy if not unspectacular on the ball. He was very vocal in making demands of his teammates and looking to dictate the game. A strong base from which to build.

Samuel Amo Ameyaw – 6

Diogo Sousa – 4

Gessime Yassine – 4

Conrad Harder – 4

GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Nice