Bodmer Strikes as OGC Nice Claim First Win Over Lille This Season
By BBC News Staff
OGC Nice secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Lille on Wednesday evening, with veteran midfielder Mathieu Bodmer scoring the decisive goal against his former club at the Allianz Riviera on Matchday 7 of Ligue 1.
The win marks Nice’s first triumph over Lille this season and lifts them to 12th place in the standings. Lille, meanwhile, remain in fourth, unable to break through a well-organised and disciplined Nice side.
Lille, without top scorer Divock Origi and key defender Marko Baša, looked bereft of ideas in attack. Both players were ruled out due to illness, with manager René Girard later revealing that Baša was also nursing a sprained ankle. Their absence was keenly felt as the visitors struggled to create meaningful opportunities throughout the match.
On a slick Côte d’Azur pitch, conditions were far from ideal, and Lille failed to adapt. Despite dominating possession for long periods, their lack of creativity proved costly.
Nice, in contrast, were sharp and efficient. Their patience paid off in the second half when Bodmer, a former Lille player, found the net, sending the home crowd into celebration. The goal was enough to seal the win and inject new momentum into Nice’s campaign ahead of their upcoming trip to Monaco on Saturday.
Girard expressed hope that both Origi and Baša would recover in time for the weekend fixture against Bastia, but their fitness remains uncertain.
For Nice, the result underlines a growing sense of resilience and tactical discipline. For Lille, it is a reminder of the challenges posed by injuries and the need for greater attacking ingenuity as the season progresses.
Reporting by BBC News.
