The right operation.
This is how to summarize the evening of the Monegasques, winners of Nice, this Sunday, at the end of the 21st day of Ligue 1.
After a rhythmic start to the match and two blocks in place - a half-surprise when we know that Nice had only conceded 11 goals in 20 matches before the match - the first spark came from the Rock.
Served by Mohamed Camara from around thirty meters, Denis Zakaria did not procrastinate and fired a splendid shot which cleared the top corner of Marcin Bulka, stunned by the Monegasque's inspiration (1-0, 16th).
The Niçois, rarely trailing this season, quickly provide a response.
Hicham Boudaoui (22nd) and Morgan Sanson (32nd) collide with Philipp Köhn, but contact between Louchet and Kehrer gives Gaëtan Laborde the opportunity to equalize on a penalty (1-1, 37th).
In the meantime, Marcin Bulka avoids the ASM break thanks to a nice save on a shot from Takumi Minamino (24th).
The two teams return to the locker rooms tied.
An unbridled second act
After the break, Zakaria took advantage of Jean-Clair Todibo's apathy to score a double (2-1, 50th).
At a time when Nice is losing control, everything becomes a little more complicated when Dante is sent off after a dangerous move on Minamino (54th).
Despite everything, Nice relies on the flair of Evann Guessand, who, with a header following a corner, puts his team back in the match (2-2, 74th).
The locals, invigorated and euphoric, lost their concentration and were punished by Golovin (3-2, 77th).
The joy of the scorer ❤️
2⃣-3⃣ #OGCNASM pic.twitter.com/wiHLGU2Kwj
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) February 11, 2024
This Riviera derby will therefore have smiled on Monaco.
Adi Hütter's men climb to the third step of the podium and are only one point behind Nice, second.