With the former Montpellier resident Andy Delort, copiously whistled by the public of La Mosson who reproaches him for his departure, the Nice people rowed against the tide after the severe exclusion of their captain Dante (35th), which caused a penalty.

But Téji Savanier missed his panenka and the Gym defended fiercely in the rain, settling for a draw.

A week before a highly anticipated meeting at the Vélodrome stadium, Christophe Galtier's team (50 pts) could see Marseille return (47 pts), traveling to Brest on Sunday evening (8:45 p.m.).

But if this draw is a lesser evil for Nice, it slows down the good dynamics of the Riviera team, qualified for the final of the Coupe de France and victorious over Paris SG last weekend in L1 (1-0).

Swept away in Lyon (2-0), a month ago, sluggish in Strasbourg (0-0), the Aiglons are now struggling outside where they had so far displayed impressive know-how.

Montpellier, bitter after the transfer of Delort this summer, is nourishing a small revenge by containing Nice a second time, after having beaten it on November 7 (0-1) at the Allianz Riviera.

Eaglets with clipped wings

Olivier Dall'Oglio's team clipped the wings of the Aiglons, but above all reacted well after a long air gap.

Ranked in 5th place at the winter break, it slows down its slide to stabilize in 11th place.

Nice midfielder Mario Lemina pressed by Montpellier's Maxime Esteve and Nicolas Cozza during the draw (0-0) at La Mosson, March 12, 2022 Pascal GUYOT AFP

But she can have big regrets after having clearly dominated the Nice.

Sovereign in the midfield, the MHSC notably mastered the first period, but singularly lacked realism.

Thus, in the 37th minute, Savanier missed his penalty, whistled following the fault of captain Dante.

Then, Montpellier put the best defense in Ligue 1 in difficulty through the young striker Elye Wahi, author of two strikes close to the post (5th, 9th), and real poison.

And Savanier twice found central defender Estève, on recovery stopped by Benitez, (14th) and midfielder Florent Mollet, whose header touched the post.

Montpellier did not have more success after the break.

The recovery of the center-forward Valère Germain bounced off the base of the post of Benitez (53rd), before Estève also failed on the post after a big mess.

And Nice in all this?

Apart from a strike from Delort on the post of Jonas Omlin, the OGCN was little threatening.

Nice goalkeeper Walter Benitez saves his team from an attack by Montpellier at the La Mosson stadium, March 12, 2022 Pascal GUYOT AFP

Mario Lemina placed a header just off (48th).

And Kasper Dolberg, who replaced Delort who was whistled, adjusted a shot just wide (77th).

Too short to snatch another victory, but this time Nice will settle for a draw.

© 2022 AFP