(Ligue 1 2023/2024): Highlights BREST - NICE

An ultimate match of the weekend saw Brest's excellent run of form face another big challenge. Last week it was Champions and League leaders Paris Saint-Germain, this weekend second-placed Nice. So much of huge significance in the race for Champions League qualification between the provisional silver and bronze medalists coming into the weekend. Nice had been a little more up and down in their recent form, losing to Rennes on the return from the winter break but scraping to a victory over Metz last time out, compared to Les Pirates who were undefeated in all competitions since a loss to PSG in October and fought back impressively from two goals down to draw with the Parisians last time out. It was Les Aiglons though searching for a first away win since October who came within a few centimetres of breaking the deadlock here. Evanguesson's shot trickling just wide of the post. On closer inspection it would prove that the Côte d'Ivoire's international shot had taken a likely crucial flick of the advancing Marco Bizotte. The home side's best opportunity of the first half came with nine minutes remaining. The ball bouncing kindly for Ugo Magneti who chested it down and struck a dipping half-volley on target. Martian Bucher's parry fell into the path of Martin Satriano. Uruguayan try the rebound, well over. Leaning back, should have done better. So goalless at the break, perhaps unsurprisingly as two of the division's three meanest defences went toe-to-toe particularly with Nice missing their first-choice striker Teren Mofi still at the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria. Josteling in the stands and on the pitch too. The absence of Mofi had again failed to guess on. As the game got back underway, Kévin Thuram with a tempting ball in but not enough power on the header to truly threaten Marco Bizotte particularly after a debatable deflection off a hand. At the other end, a dangerous cross from Román del Castillo was met at the near post by a flying Satriano but again off target. Face buried in the turf, seemingly not the forward's day. Both sides threw men forward in the final ten minutes but the rock-solid defences would prevail. So a 12th clean sheet for Nice and ninth for Brest. The second 0-0 of the season between the two sees Paris move eight points clear at the top and Lille close to within one of the pirates.