Nice back on the winning track

Nice got back to winning ways in Ligue 1 with a 1-0 victory at home to Guingamp.

Nice got back to winning ways in Ligue 1 with a 1-0 victory at home to Guingamp. Dario Cvitanich struck the only goal of the contest in the 48th minute, although there were plenty of chances to add to the scoring with both sides hitting the woodwork. The victory sees Nice back on track after suffering a defeat to Nantes in midweek, with Claude Puel's men now in fifth place, just four points shy of leaders Paris St Germain. Prior to the Nantes defeat Nice had gone unbeaten in five, winning three and drawing two, and they looked determined to return to form in a first half they dominated. Nemanja Pejcinovic was the first to threaten for the hosts with a volley straight at the goalkeeper after 11 minutes, while with 17 minutes gone Didier Digard's fierce 25-yard drive was turned onto the crossbar by Guy N'dy Assembe. Christian Bruls also went close for Nice, firing just wide from Cvitanich's cross moments before the interval. Nice's greater threat finally told three minutes into the second half when Bruls' free-kick 30 yards out was allowed to come all the way through to the unmarked Cvitanich who had a simple task to head home. The lead was almost increased moments later when Bruls again played in Cvitanich but this time his effort curled just over the bar. The frame of the Guingamp goal was left shaking again in the 56th minute when Nampalys Mendy's powerful volley cannoned against the crossbar, but that was the cue for an overdue spell of pressure by the visitors. First Dorian Leveque's shot from the left side of the area was turned away by David Ospina, while on 73 minutes Fatih Atik was unlucky to see his volley from a Christophe Mandanne pass come back off a post. That was as close as the visitors came to taking anything from the match, and indeed it was Nice who came closest to adding to the scoring late on when Cvitanich's header was turned against an upright by N'dy Assembe.