PLAYER RATINGS | Clermont 1-2 Nice, Gouiri’s late double sneaks a win for an undeserving Nice
CLERMONT – 1 (Ogier 17)
Ouparine Djoco, 3 – Little to do throughout much of the game on his debut having replaced the suspect Desmas but managed to let a spinning Gouiri volley slip between his gloves having seemingly made a fairly routine save and cost his team the lead. He did make up with it partially by cleverly pinching the ball from Delort as he tried to round him late on.
Akim Zedadka, 6
Jean-Claude Billong, 5
Florent Ogier, 6
Vital N’Simba 6
Salis Abdul Samed, 6 – Forced off with injury on the hour but has adapted well to Ligue 1 overall and his dynamism, mobility and neat use of possession were again quietly very useful here.
Johan Gastien, 6 – Not always so assured in Ligue 1 this season but his quality on the ball often shone here while getting through a lot of midfield work and being unlucky not to score with a header that hit the bar.
Jason Berthomier, 6
Elbasan Rashani, 4 – After some impressive early displays this season, his affect on games has waned and his goal output has slowed and was no better than on the fringes here again.
Jim Allevinah, 7 – A constant menace committing defenders on his flank and was a major driving force behind Clermont’s attack, creating openings with his direct style. Having been dropped following Rashani’s emergence, he’s notably increased his intensity of late.
Mohamed Bayo, 5 – His movement and link up play were solid throughout but he perhaps should have scored failing to do so in a lengthy goalmouth scramble before half time and having nipped in ahead of Benitez after Berthomier’s low cross, poking wide.
Others: Iglesias 5, Tell 5, Busquets 5, Dossou 5.
NICE – 2 (Gouiri 76, 82)
Walter Benítez, 7 – Made a sequence of important first half stops, his fingertip flick to tip Gastien’s header onto the bar and save from Billong in the ensuing scramble was a highlight.
Jordan Lotomba, 4
Jean-Clair Todibo, 5
Flavius Daniliuc, 5
Melvin Bard, 5
Pablo Rosario, 4 – His early season promise is quickly evaporating and, along with Lemina, is now under real threat from Thuram for his place in the side. Outplayed comfortably by Berthomier, Samed and Gastien.
Khéphren Thuram, 5
Lucas Da Cunha, 3 – Very little to no impact, anonymous for long periods. Whoever fills this role, especially with Gouiri playing creator-in-chief on the left, often struggles to get into the game. A switch in setup or benching one of the three leading forwards may be needed for balance.
Amine Gouiri, 8 – Galtier’s 4-4-2 system with Dolberg, Gouiri and Delort all used at once, suits him much more than others – even if he would benefit from playing closer to the goal – and effectively all of Nice’s promising play again went through the young Frenchman here. It was his chopped volley that equalised before a stunning curling effort won the game late on.
Andy Delort, 5
Kasper Dolberg, 3 – Clumsily gave away a needless free kick which lead to the opening goal and, as he was last season following a robbery at his home, seems understandably unsettled by his recent diabetes diagnosis. A real confidence player and offered little here.
Others: Lemina 5, Kluivert 5, Stengs 5, Schneiderlin 6, Kamara 5.