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PLAYER RATINGS | Nice 0-0 Reims: Folarin Balogun misses penalty as both sides extend unbeaten runs

autty 2023-02-19 01:58:04 评论

Ligue 1, Round 24, 18/02/23

Will Still and Didier Digard both remain unbeaten as OGC Nice and Stade de Reims saw out a tepid 0-0 draw at the Allianz Riviera after Folarin Balogun missed a second-half penalty. The win breaks Reims’ Ligue 1 unbeaten record (now 16 games unbeaten), which had stood since 1959.

Nice certainly had the upper hand in the first half but failed to convert that into chances. Terem Moffi, still in search of his first goal for Les Aiglons, had arguably the best chance, but made the wrong choice from close-range, shooting instead of feeding Khéphren Thuram, who was free in middle.

It was the Frenchman who continued to punctuate a dreary half with moments of elegance and excitement, breaking the lines with direct progressions on numerous occasions. Nice, however, couldn’t cut through a stern Reims defence, the main reason for their unbeaten run, which stretches back to September.

Reims grew into the game in the second half and began causing Nice’s defence a few issues. Folarin Balogun used his body intelligently to win a foul from Jean-Clair Todibo inside the box. The Arsenal loanee then got up to take the resulting penalty, but his effort was comfortably saved by Kasper Schmeichel and the rebound was blazed over.

Thuram had a good chance just minutes later, but his close-range header didn’t find the target. Reims also went close with a headed effort from Mitchell Van Bergen late on, but neither side managed to break the deadlock, both sides continuing their impressive unbeaten streaks.

Kasper Schmeichel – 6 – The former Leicester City goalkeeper has improved in recent weeks, and this was another positive showing. He was tidy in his distribution and made the crucial save from Balogun’s penalty, even though the Englishman’s effort was poorly struck and at a good height.

Melvin Bard -5

Dante – 5

Jean-Clair Todibo – 5

Jordan Lotomba – 7

Khéphren Thuram – 7 – The most eye-catching and effective player on the pitch. He exerts an impressive level of control in the midfield and was responsible for Nice’s first-half territorial and possessions dominance. He had a couple of chances, notably around the hour mark when he headed wide unpressured from close-range. Press-resistant, progressive, and lucid in his positioning, the Frenchman could do with adding the finishing touch to his game to become a truly complete midfielder.

Hicham Boudaoui – 6

Aaron Ramsey – 7 – Particularly influential in the first half, finding pockets of space and helping his side work their way through the thirds. He linked up nicely with Lotomba, with whom he is beginning to forge a good understanding. Alongside Thuram, Nice’s midfield has a good balance.

Gaëtan Laborde – 5

Terem Moffi – 3 – He is clearly desperate to score his first goal for Les Aiglons and it is beginning to make him think erratically in scoring positions. One of the best chances of the match fell to the Nigerian in the first five minutes, and rather than squaring to an unmarked Thuram to slot home, he tried his own luck from a tight angle, but only found the side-netting.

Sofiane Diop – 5

Yehvann Diouf – 4

Thibault De Smet – 5

Yunis Abdelhamid – 5

Check Keita – 6

Thomas Foket – 4

Lopy Dion – 4

Azor Matusiwa – 5

Myziane Maolida – 4

Alexis Flips – 4

Junya Ito – 3 – Given how rarely Reims had the ball in attacking areas, they needed to be efficient, and on multiple occasions, Ito was responsible for promising moves breaking down. His touch was poor, and his passes were very loose.

Folarin Balogun – 4 – The Arsenal loanee fed off scraps for long periods, but was efficient in his interventions, attracting players, manufacturing space and feeding others. The Arsenal loanee did well to skip past Todibo to attract the penalty in the second half, but his effort from the spot was limp and poorly placed, whilst the rebound lacked composure. A day to forget for Ligue 1’s top scorer.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

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非常抱歉!