Nice go fourth with win in Lens

In a weekend of matches with big implications in the race for the Champions League, struggling OGC Nice faced a crucial trip to face Racing Club de Lens on Saturday evening. Winless in the league since late January, Les Aiglons had slipped from second to sixth in that span, their attack struggling to fire, and playing on the back of a humbling exit from the Coupe de France in the week. Lens, meanwhile, had won five of seven and looked ready to put pressure on the likes of AS Monaco and Brest ahead of the international break.

Both sides fielded strong elevens, but it was the visitors who struck first, with Terem Moffi scoring for just the second time in 2024. The Nigerian, who had missed much of January through his presence at the Africa , was the beneficiary of some fine pressing from Francesco Farioli’s side. Mohamed-Ali Cho pressured Facundo Medina into a mistake and square the ball for Moffi, who tucked the ball home to give the visitors the lead.

Showman. Terem Moffi. 🇳🇬🤩🤸‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/LBi3nTVLia

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) March 16, 2024

 The match continued at breakneck pace — the two teams combined for 27 shots — but it would be Nice who would double their lead just after the interval, as Cho turned provider once more, setting up Khéphren Thuram after a poor pass out from the back from Nampalys Mendy. Despite Lens having controlled large stretches of the match, they now faced a 2-0 deficit, and things would only get worse as Moffi converted a penalty to put the visitors up 3-0 with just over 20 minutes to play.

Lens would pick up a consolation goal from Elye Wahi, who had narrowly had a previous effort chalked off for offside, but would get no closer. The result sees the two sides swap places — Nice now sit fourth, two points behind AS Monaco, while Lens drop to sixth, level on points with Lille ahead of Les Dogues‘ clash with Brest.