PLAYER RATINGS | Nice 1-2 PSG: Barcola steals the show & dashes Nice’s UCL hopes

Ligue 1 Uber Eats, Round 32, 15/05/24

Bradley Barcola stole the show at the Allianz Riviera, registering a goal and an assist as Paris Saint-Germain put pay to OGC Nice’s chances of securing UEFA Champions League football for next season (1-2).

After Friday’s victory over Le Havre AC, Le Gym were already guaranteed to compete in Europe next season, however, with a final-day fixture against Lille OSC looming, they had their destiny in their own hands – win both games and Nice would overtake Lille and steal the fourth place at the death.

PSG, meanwhile, had nothing to play for but pride. However, after Sunday’s 3-1 defeat against Toulouse FC, pride was certainly on the line and Luis Enrique was expecting a reaction. Pre-match, he seemed to criticise the lethargy and passiveness of his side against Toulouse and for the encounter, Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes and Randal Kolo Muani were all absent. Whilst the former two did suffer minor injuries, it is thought that not all absences can be attributed to injuries.

There was still a hangover from that defeat at the Parc des Princes in the early stages. Waren Zaïre-Emery lost the ball on the edge of his own box, presenting a glorious chance to Képhren Thuram, who one-on-one against Arnau Tenas, should have done better than hitting the post. Many chances, for both sides, were created by high turnovers and that is how the first goal was scored.

Jordan Lotomba turned into trouble, Barcola made the tackle before the Frenchman then latched onto Fabián Ruiz’s ball through and dispatched past Marcin Bulka. That lead was then doubled soon after and once again, it was Barcola the orchestrator, beating Lotomba and putting a ball across the face of goal for Yoram Zague to tap in his first professional goal.

However, Nice continued to create chances but unlike PSG, they lacked the finishing touch for the most part. Mohamed Al-Cho got one back after a bursting Jérémie Boga run into the box but they really ought to have been level before the break. Boga and Terem Moffi both had good chances to restore parity but failed to do so.

Understandably, PSG tried to kill the rhythm of the match at the start of the second half and there were fewer transitions and therefore fewer chances. Gaëtan Laborde had a good chance after some good pressing from Hicham Boudaoui, but receiving the ball on the turn, he went the wrong way and could only dispatch a tepid shot on the turn – it is the image of his season.

Nice’s chances of winning the match were effectively ended in the 75th minute when Melvin Bard was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity after barging Barcola off the ball, despite the latter being way inside his own half. Barcola should then have got his second but could only strike the upright with his volley from a tight angle but that miss went unpunished as Nice, in front of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who had made the journey to the Allianz Riviera for the occasion, succumbed to a defeat that ends their Champions League hopes. Les Aiglons finish fifth and will compete in the UEFA Europa League next season.

The Swiss defender was culpable on the first goal, turning into trouble before being dispossessed. Uninfluential going forward and poor defensively, Lotomba was booed when he was subbed off just before the hour mark. A day to forget.

Bar Barcola, Boga was the standout performer on the night, beating Zague with ease on several occasions and registering the assist on Cho’s goal. It was a performance that deserved more than a defeat.

A performance like many others for Moffi this season. Whilst he has been clinical at times, notably in the return fixture when he netted a brace at the Parc des Princes, he also has an increasing tendency to disappear in matches. This was one of those and given his lack of involvement in build-up, it is a problem that will have to be addressed next season.

It was a night of contrasting emotions for Zague, who despite scoring his first professional goal, on his 18th birthday no less, certainly lost his battle with Boga, Nice’s most influential player on the night. There was a huge gap in his performance in attack and defence.

In the absence of Kylian Mbappé, Barcola assumed the mantle of getting the goals. He was imperious, pressing and then finishing for PSG’s first before then setting up Zague after a mazy run to the byline. He dazzled and was PSG’s main creative source. This is the performance that could, and should, book his place in Didier Deschamps’ Euros squad.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle