Two Braces and Bedlam: The Côte d'Azur Derby Descends Into Chaos

Imperdible Puntuación Futmetrix: 100/100. When two strikers in lethal form and three spot-kicks transform a Monaco versus Nice clash into a theatre of ecstasy and agony, you have a match that defines a season.

Intensity Unleashed at Stade Louis II

From the opening exchanges at Stade Louis II, intensity crackles across the pitch. Sofiane Diop breaks the deadlock at 29 minutes, assisted by M. Cho, handing Nice the advantage. But at 34, Ali Abdi receives a straight red for a brutal foul. Reduced to ten men, Nice's fortress crumbles. Monaco seizes numerical dominance: Ansu Fati levels from the penalty spot at 45, then adds a second at 56—both from twelve yards.

Three Penalties and Collective Madness

Between the 42nd and 56th minutes, three goals arrive in fourteen minutes. Diop converts a penalty at 42 to equalize. Fati then takes centre stage with two clinical finishes from the spot. This crunch match becomes pure spectacle: 29 combined shots, 13 corners, and VAR confirming controversy at 45. Krépin Diatta shines defensively for Monaco with an 8.2 rating, while Diop and Fati share the honours with two goals each. The balance tilts, the lead changes twice, and the comeback narrative writes itself.

A Derby Defined by Fragile Equilibrium

The 2-2 final score encapsulates this regional grudge match perfectly: two lead changes, a late equaliser, and the unfinished feeling that defines the fiercest derbies. Monaco dominates possession (66%) and chances, yet Nice—despite the expulsion and relentless pressure—refuses to surrender. Every action becomes a battle. The Côte d'Azur Derby delivers its 2025 edition: raw, passionate, and perfectly balanced. Neither team breaks; both emerge bloodied but unbowed.