PLAYER RATINGS | OGC Nice 1-5 Marseille: Roberto De Zerbi’s side warm up for Newcastle game with emphatic derby-day win

Only after did Nice start to show signs of a revolt. Sofiane Diop fluffed a good chance with an air shot; Terem Moffi’s scorpion kick was well saved by Jeffrey De Lange; and the Dutchman was then called into action by Melvin Bard.

Moffi then had a brilliant chance to halve the deficit as the ball hobbled and bobbled into the Nigerian’s path, affording him a clear sight of goal that was expertly saved by De Lange, low to his right. Franck Haise’s side were immediately punished. Greenwood picked up the ball, eased past the permeable Juma Bah and unleashed a brilliant hit into the far corner. Five minutes later, it was four as Timothy Weah stole in at the back post and blasted past Yehvann Diouf at a tight angle. 

Mohamed-Ali Cho got one back with a header at the back post, but there was no urgency to get back into the game; there was no celebration, just resignation. And less than 10 minutes later, OM had their fifth. It was unselfish from Aubameyang, who played in by Matt O’Riley, opted to pass across for Igor Paixao to slot home into the empty net. 

The match was stopped in the 85th minute due to the Populaire Sud’s extravagant firework display. The game was then ended definitively with no minutes added on, bringing an end to a contest that never was.

OGC Nice player ratings

Yehvann Diouf – 5

Kojo Peprah Oppong – 3

Juma Bah – 2

A performance that summed up his time at Nice so far. He was a mere passenger, so easily bypassed on so many occasions. He left gaps, was out of position, lost duels… On OM’s second, he did what Haise has accused his players of doing all too much, staying down from a duel, allowing the opposition to break and create an overload that they exploited. The image of Nice’s collective insufficiency.

Antoine Mendy – 2

Melvin Bard – 4

Charles Vanhoutte – 5

Salis Abdul Samed – 3

With every game that passes, that one excellent season at RC Lens looks more and more like an anomaly. He looks so bereft of confidence, only capable of short, risk-free passes; he looks to have lost his passing range and vision. He didn’t make a difference defensively either.

Jonathan Clauss – 4

Sofiane Diop – 4

Terem Moffi – 3

Mohamed-Ali Cho – 5

Marseille player ratings

Jeffrey De Lange – 6

Emerson – 6

Leonardo Balerdi – 5

Benjamin Pavard – 6

Geoffrey Kondogbia – 7

A very workmanlike performance for the defender who was dogged in his defensive work, determined to throw himself around in service of the team. He set the example that was followed.

Timothy Weah – 6

Arthur Vermeeren – 7

Another promising outing for the Belgian in a Marseille shirt. Was assured on and off the ball, working well with Kondogbia in midfield. He tracked back in the first period as Nice looked to generate several chances before the end of the half, helping his backline before becoming the launchpad for several counter-attacks in the second period.

Angel Gomes – 5

Igor Paixao – 5

Mason Greenwood – 8

The Englishman provided a brace to become top scorer in the league with ten strikes. Whilst he had a quiet opening period, the former Manchester United man sprung into life when he found several pockets of space down the right side – especially on the counter attack. His first goal was a deflected strike off Vanhoutte, but he was well-positioned to receive the ball and drive into the dangerous area on the left side. His second strike of the evening was more impressive: Leo Balerdi released him on the edge of the box, and Greenwood shifted his body well before releasing a low strike past Diouf.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 7

GFFN | Luke Entwistle and George Boxall – reporting from Nice