Šulc Powerless Against Nice's Defensive Masterclass: 3-2 Thriller

Must Watch Futmetrix Score: 87/100. Nice denies Lyon victory despite a relentless assault from the visitors, as Pavel Šulc's brace proves insufficient against clinical finishing and heroic goalkeeping at the Allianz Riviera.

Bard's Lightning Start Sets the Tone

Nice strikes first. In the 5th minute, Mathys Bard opens the scoring from Sofiane Diop's assist, establishing the match's balance immediately. Lyon equalises swiftly: at 29 minutes, Šulc levels through Ryan Kluivert's setup. Then the pivotal moment—VAR cancels a Nice penalty at 33 minutes, freezing Lyon's momentum at a critical juncture and shifting the intensity decisively.

Lyon's Bombardment: 29 Shots, Two Goals

Lyon dominates with 69% possession and a barrage of 29 shots, yet Nice's defensive wall absorbs the pressure. Diop adds a second at 35 minutes (assist Jérémie Boga), then Hicham Boudaoui seals it at 55 via Jonathan Clauss's cross. Goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf denies a penalty with a crucial save, becoming the invisible architect of Nice's triumph.

Šulc's Late Brace: Too Little, Too Late

At 90 minutes, Šulc adds a spectacular second, but it's a consolation. Lyon accumulates 17 corners and 34 combined shots, exposing the stakes of dominance without clinical precision. Nice, with just 5 shots, converts each chance into gold. This is football at its most brutal—a victory stolen from possession, a triumph of will over statistics.