Match ends, Nice 2, Montpellier 1.
Nice 2-1 Montpellier
- From the section European Football
Nice striker Mickael le Bihan scored twice on his return after 17 months out with a broken leg as the Ligue 1 title contenders beat Montpellier.
Montpellier led when Steve Mounie took advantage of a defensive ricochet to fire home.
Le Bihan, whose last appearance was in September 2015, came off the bench after an hour and levelled with a 20-yard effort.
And he converted Arnaud Souquet's through ball for a late winner.
It was only the 26-year-old's fourth game for Nice, having suffered his injury weeks after a move from Le Havre.
Montpellier almost levelled in injury time when Ryad Boudebouz's free-kick struck the post.
Nice are behind leaders Monaco on goal difference, though their local rivals can go three points ahead again when they visit Guingamp on Saturday (16:00 GMT).
Line-ups
Nice
- 30Cardinale
- 2Souquet
- 4Baysse
- 31Costa Santos
- 29Chagas EstevaoBooked at 71mins
- 25Cyprien
- 24ObbadiSubstituted forKozielloat 87'minutes
- 6Seri
- 13EyssericSubstituted forSrarfiat 88'minutes
- 22DonisSubstituted forLe Bihanat 60'minutes
- 5BelhandaBooked at 49mins
Substitutes
- 10Le Bihan
- 11Srarfi
- 15Burner
- 18Walter
- 20Le Marchand
- 26Koziello
- 40Benítez
Montpellier
- 1Pionnier
- 23Mukiele
- 4Da Silva
- 3Congré
- 24RoussillonSubstituted forDeplagneat 78'minutes
- 5SyllaBooked at 85minsSubstituted forDollyat 88'minutes
- 13Skhiri
- 7Lasne
- 28Sessegnon
- 15MounieSubstituted forMbenzaat 70'minutes
- 10Boudebouz
Substitutes
- 8Passi
- 12Pokorny
- 16Jourdren
- 18Mbenza
- 19Camara
- 20Dolly
- 25Deplagne
- Referee:
- Frank Schneider
- Attendance:
- 18,998
Match Stats
Home TeamNiceAway TeamMontpellier
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away1
- Corners
- Home1
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away10
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Nice 2, Montpellier 1.
Attempt missed. Ellyes Skhiri (Montpellier) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Keagan Dolly with a cross following a set piece situation.
Ryad Boudebouz (Montpellier) hits the left post with a left footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.
Foul by Younès Belhanda (Nice).
Paul Lasne (Montpellier) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Arnaud Souquet (Nice) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Mathieu Deplagne (Montpellier).
Substitution
Substitution, Montpellier. Keagan Dolly replaces Yacouba Sylla.
Substitution
Substitution, Nice. Bassem Srarfi replaces Valentin Eysseric.
Substitution
Substitution, Nice. Vincent Koziello replaces Mounir Obbadi.
Goal!
Goal! Nice 2, Montpellier 1. Mickael Le Bihan (Nice) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Arnaud Souquet with a through ball.
Attempt missed. Younès Belhanda (Nice) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Mounir Obbadi.
Foul by Jean Michael Seri (Nice).
Paul Lasne (Montpellier) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Montpellier. Mathieu Deplagne replaces Jérôme Roussillon because of an injury.
Attempt blocked. Mounir Obbadi (Nice) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Wylan Cyprien with a cross.
Attempt blocked. Wylan Cyprien (Nice) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mounir Obbadi.
Booking
Dalbert (Nice) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Dalbert (Nice).
Ryad Boudebouz (Montpellier) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Montpellier. Isaac Mbenza replaces Steve Mounie.
Goal!
Goal! Nice 1, Montpellier 1. Mickael Le Bihan (Nice) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Valentin Eysseric.
Attempt missed. Valentin Eysseric (Nice) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Mounir Obbadi.
Attempt missed. Wylan Cyprien (Nice) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Younès Belhanda.
Offside, Nice. Younès Belhanda tries a through ball, but Mickael Le Bihan is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Nice. Mickael Le Bihan replaces Anastasios Donis.
Attempt missed. Daniel Congré (Montpellier) header from the left side of the six yard box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Ryad Boudebouz with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Montpellier. Conceded by Dalbert.
Attempt saved. Wylan Cyprien (Nice) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Valentin Eysseric.
Nordi Mukiele (Montpellier) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Younès Belhanda (Nice).
Attempt blocked. Arnaud Souquet (Nice) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Anastasios Donis.
Foul by Stéphane Sessegnon (Montpellier).
Mounir Obbadi (Nice) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Younès Belhanda (Nice) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Nordi Mukiele (Montpellier) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Younès Belhanda (Nice).
Attempt missed. Hilton (Montpellier) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Jérôme Roussillon with a cross.
Hand ball by Stéphane Sessegnon (Montpellier).