Nice 0-0 Monaco Player Ratings: A Stalemate at the Allianz Riviera Sees Both Teams Share Points

A fiercely contested Ligue 1 encounter between Nice and Monaco ended in a goalless stalemate, a result that tells only half the story of a dramatic and attritional battle. This was a game defined by near misses and what-ifs.

The visitors, Monaco, will be kicking themselves after striking the woodwork and creating several golden opportunities they simply couldn't convert.

The match had a flashpoint early on. A penalty was awarded to Nice after a handball by Denis Zakaria, but the hosts failed to capitalize on the golden opportunity, a moment that seemed to set the tone for their frustrating afternoon.

The game was a physical, stop-start affair, punctuated by numerous fouls and a couple of yellow cards, which disrupted any real rhythm from developing for long spells. Both goalkeepers were called into action and proved their worth with crucial saves.

Ultimately, it was a clash of resilient defenses and blunt attacks. While a point each seems a fair reflection, AS Monaco will leave the Allianz Riviera feeling like they left two points behind. For Nice, it's a hard-earned point built on defensive grit, but their inability to make their chances count, especially from the spot, will be a major concern.

Here are the Nice vs Monaco Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Both teams were on their toes at all times, where Nice maintained 44% possession while Monaco managed 56%.
• Denis Zakaria was guilty of conceding an unfortunate penalty, but Nice failed to convert the spot kick.
• The goalkeepers of both teams were the stars for their respective sides with important saves throughout the match.

Nice Player Ratings vs Monaco

Check out the Nice Player Ratings from the Nice vs Monaco Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Maxime Dupé - 7.0: A solid performance from the Nice keeper. He wasn't peppered with shots but made two important saves inside the box when called upon. What stood out to us was his command of the area, claiming a high ball confidently. His distribution could have been better, but his primary job was keeping the ball out, and he did that for a valuable clean sheet.

Defenders

Jonathan Clauss - 7.0: An all-action display from the wing-back. He was a constant creative outlet, whipping in five crosses and creating three chances for his teammates. Defensively, he was also diligent, making four tackles. However, he lost possession a bit too often for our liking and was lucky with a handball decision.

Kojo Peprah Oppong - 7.0: A very tidy and efficient performance at the back. We were impressed by his incredible 95% pass accuracy, which is rare for a defender under pressure. He was composed, made five crucial clearances, and won most of his duels. A quiet but very effective evening's work.

Dante - 7.0: The veteran captain led by example with a commanding defensive display. He was an absolute rock, making a game-high eight clearances to repel Monaco's attacks. He even ventured forward and narrowly missed a header from a corner. A true warrior's performance, though his passing was a little less crisp than usual.

Ali Abdi - 6.0: A mixed bag from the left-back. He showed flashes of attacking intent with some successful dribbles but was often wasteful in possession. He lost a significant number of his duels and seemed to struggle with the pace of Monaco's wingers at times. He worked hard, but the final quality was missing.

Midfielders

Charles Vanhoutte - 6.5: Did the simple things well in the heart of midfield without ever really grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck. He kept possession ticking over with decent pass accuracy. Defensively, however, we felt he was a bit passive, winning only a fraction of his duels and getting dribbled past twice.

Morgan Sanson - 7.5: The best player in a Nice shirt before his unfortunate injury forced him off. He was absolutely everywhere, recovering the ball 12 times and dictating play from deep. His passing was incisive, creating two key chances for the forwards. His departure was a huge blow to the team's creative hopes.

Tom Louchet - 6.5: A busy but ultimately frustrating performance from the young midfielder. He showed great energy and won all his tackles in his 64 minutes on the pitch. However, he struggled to make a real impact in the final third and lost possession frequently, which stalled some promising attacks.

Forwards

Gabin Bernardeau - 7.0: A lively and combative display from Bernardeau. He was a constant menace, drawing fouls and showing great commitment by winning all three of his tackles. He forced a good save from the Monaco keeper with a shot from distance. He put in a real shift before being substituted.

Elye Wahi - 6.0: A frustrating evening for the striker. He got into great positions and had two shots on target, forcing good saves from the keeper. From our perspective, he needed to be more clinical. On another day, he could have been the match-winner, but his finishing touch deserted him.

Sofiane Diop - 6.5: Had moments of brightness but flattered to deceive. He was heavily involved, with nearly 70 touches, but lost the ball far too many times. He picked up a needless yellow card and squandered a few shooting opportunities by blazing them off target. He tried to make things happen but lacked composure.

Substitutes

Kail Boudache - 6.0: Came on and had a couple of blocked shots but didn't significantly change the game.

Tanguy Ndombélé - 6.0: Brought on to add some control in midfield but struggled to get into the rhythm of the match.

Juma Bah - N/A: Came on late for the injured Sanson and had little time to make an impact.

Manager

C. Puel - 6.5: Set his team up to be defensively solid, and they earned a clean sheet, which is a credit to him. However, his side looked toothless in attack and failed to capitalize on a penalty. His substitutions didn't really provide the spark needed to find a winner.

Monaco Player Ratings vs Nice

Check out the Nice Player Ratings from the Nice vs Monaco Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Philipp Köhn - 7.5: A very assured performance from the Monaco shot-stopper. He made three crucial saves, including a brilliant one to deny Elye Wahi, to preserve his clean sheet. His distribution was solid, and he commanded his box with authority. A key figure in securing the away point.

Defenders

Thilo Kehrer - 7.5: A fantastic defensive performance. Kehrer was a wall, winning the majority of his duels and making four crucial tackles. His reading of the game was excellent, with three interceptions, and he even contributed two key passes. His only blemish was being dribbled past once.

Denis Zakaria - 8.0: Our man of the match. Aside from the unfortunate handball for the penalty, he was simply immense. An absolute monster at the back, he won 80% of his duels and made a staggering eight clearances. He was a dominant physical presence and read the game beautifully, stepping in with three interceptions. A captain's performance that single-handedly earned his team a point.

J. Teze - 7.0: Solid and dependable. Teze was strong in the tackle and used his physicality well, winning two-thirds of his duels. He made five clearances and played some ambitious long balls to try and launch attacks. He was part of a backline that gave very little away all evening.

Midfielders

Aladji Bamba - 7.0: A really combative performance in the middle of the park. He won six of his ten duels and drew three fouls, constantly breaking up Nice's play. He was tidy on the ball and showed good energy before being substituted. A very effective screening job.

Lamine Camara - 7.5: The main creative force for Monaco. His vision was outstanding, creating three chances, including one big chance that should have been converted. He was almost perfect with his passing and also chipped in with tackles and interceptions. A superb all-around midfield display.

Krépin Diatta - 7.0: A workhorse performance on the flank. He was fantastic defensively, winning three tackles, and was a powerhouse in the air. He was a reliable outlet, keeping possession well and working tirelessly for his team until he was substituted.

Simon Adingra - 6.0: A frustrating outing for the winger. He showed glimpses of his dribbling ability but was largely ineffective, losing possession 16 times. He lost more duels than he won and his final product was lacking. Not his best day at the office.

Forwards

Maghnes Akliouche - 7.0: A tireless runner and a defensive asset from the front. We were particularly impressed with his five tackles, showing a real willingness to work back. He won a high number of duels and was a constant nuisance, even if his attacking output was limited.

Aleksandr Golovin - 6.5: Looked tidy in his 65 minutes on the pitch and forced a good save from the Nice keeper. However, he wasn't his usual influential self and drifted in and out of the game. He struggled to find the space to unlock the stubborn Nice defence.

Folarin Balogun - 5.5: This will go down as a game he'll want to forget. He was incredibly unlucky to see his early shot crash off the crossbar. After that, his confidence seemed to dip. He missed another big chance, picked up a booking, and generally looked off the pace. A day of huge frustration.

Substitutes

Caio Henrique - 6.0: Came on but didn't have the creative impact that was hoped for.

Mamadou Coulibaly - 6.0: Added fresh legs but the game was already petering out.

Vanderson - 6.0: Was brought on to provide an attacking spark but gave away a foul soon after.

Manager

S. Pocognoli - 7.0: His team looked defensively sound and created the better chances of the game. He will be disappointed his forwards couldn't be more clinical. His side looked well-drilled and deserved more than a point on the balance of play.

Man of the Match

Denis Zakaria was our man of the match from this Ligue 1 game.

Worst Performer

Folarin Balogun of AS Monaco was the worst performer in the Nice vs Monaco match.