Nice 0-1 Sporting Braga Player Ratings: Pau Víctor Rated 8.5/10 as His Strike Seals Narrow 1-0 Win for Visitors

What a tense battle we witnessed at the Allianz Riviera. Sporting Braga traveled to France and executed a classic away performance, snatching a 1-0 victory against Nice. It was a game of fine margins, ultimately decided by a single moment of quality.

From our perspective, the game was defined by Braga's defensive grit and Nice's growing frustration. The home side just couldn't find a way through. Pau Víctor's goal in the 28th minute was a superb finish. That strike proved to be the difference maker in this crucial Europa League encounter.

We noticed Nice huffed and puffed, creating several chances. But they either lacked the final touch or were denied by an inspired goalkeeper. It felt like one of those nights for them where nothing would go in. A tough result to swallow for the home fans, who watched their team dominate possession but leave with nothing.

Here are Nice Vs Sporting Braga Player Ratings

Nice Player Ratings vs Sporting Braga

Here are Nice Player Ratings vs Sporting Braga

Goalkeeper

Maxime Dupé - 6.5: We thought he had a solid game between the sticks. He made three saves, a couple of which were quite important to keep his team in the contest. There was little he could do about the goal, it was a well-taken finish. He looked composed otherwise and distributed the ball reasonably well, despite the result.

Defenders

Melvin Bard - 5.0: A really tough night for the captain. That one error leading to the goal was so costly and it overshadowed the rest of his performance. He battled hard, winning most of his duels and making some tackles. But in a game this tight, a single mistake is all it takes. From our perspective, that moment defined his game and the match's outcome.

Kojo Peprah Oppong - 6.0: A mixed bag of a performance. He was physically present and made some important defensive actions, including a couple of clearances. However, he also picked up a needless yellow card. He lost possession a few too many times for our liking. A decent but not spectacular outing.

Tiago Gouveia - 6.5: One of the more energetic defenders for the home side. He was strong in the tackle and won a good number of his duels. We noticed he tried to get forward and support the attack, even creating a chance. His yellow card was a blemish, but overall, it was a committed display from him.

Ali Abdi - 6.0: He had an industrious game down the flank before being substituted. He managed to get a successful cross in and created a chance. Defensively, he was okay but did lose possession more than you'd like. It felt like he ran out of steam as the game went on.

Midfielders

Tom Louchet - 7.0: Probably Nice's best player on the night. What stood out to us was his creativity and desire to make things happen. He created two chances, including one big one, and was always looking for a forward pass. He put in nine crosses, showing his intent. A bright spark in a frustrating team performance.

Salis Abdul Samed - 5.5: He struggled to impose himself on the game. His passing was mostly tidy but he didn't offer much in terms of defensive security or forward thrust. He picked up a yellow card and was eventually substituted. A quiet and ineffective performance from our perspective.

Tanguy Ndombélé - 6.0: We saw flashes of his quality, with some nice dribbles and a couple of interceptions. But it was an inconsistent performance overall. He lost the ball too often and didn't control the midfield as we expected him to. He was taken off after 69 minutes, which seemed like the right call.

Forwards

Isak Jansson - 6.5: A lively and tricky player who caused some problems for the Braga defence. He completed three dribbles and got a shot on target which forced a save. However, he missed a big chance and his final product was sometimes lacking. He worked hard but couldn't find the breakthrough.

Bernard Nguene - 5.5: A very quiet evening for the attacker. He only had 20 touches in his 69 minutes on the pitch. He struggled to get involved in the game and offered very little threat. His substitution was not a surprise, he just couldn't make an impact.

Kevin Carlos - 6.0: The focal point of the attack, but it was a night of pure frustration for him. He had four shots, with two on target, but missed a big chance. What was really telling was how many duels he lost and how often he was caught offside. He worked tirelessly but it just wasn't his night.

Substitutes

Sofiane Diop - 6.0: Came on and tried to add some spark but couldn't change the game's flow.

Mohamed-Ali Cho - 6.0: Had one decent shot that went over. Looked energetic but had little time to make a real difference.

Jonathan Clauss - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Charles Vanhoutte - N/A: Came on late to add fresh legs.

Antoine Mendy - N/A: Brought on in the final minutes and picked up a yellow card.

Manager

F. Haise - 5.5: His team had plenty of the ball but lacked the cutting edge to win at home. The defensive error that led to the goal will be a major point of concern. His substitutions didn't provide the necessary impact to turn the game around. A disappointing tactical outing.

Sporting Braga Player Ratings vs Nice

Here are Sporting Braga Player Ratings vs Nice

Goalkeeper

Lukas Hornicek - 8.0: What a performance. He was a commanding presence in goal, making three crucial saves to preserve his clean sheet. His save from Kevin Carlos' close-range effort was absolutely vital. He claimed crosses with confidence and his distribution was solid. A top-class goalkeeping display.

Defenders

Vítor Carvalho - 7.0: Played as part of a solid defensive unit before his substitution. He was strong in the air and made a crucial block. He did his job effectively without much fuss, contributing to the team's overall defensive resilience. A good, disciplined performance.

Sikou Niakaté - 7.5: A rock at the heart of the defence. We were impressed by his reading of the game, making six clearances and winning almost all of his duels. He was composed on the ball with a 90% pass accuracy. He was a huge reason Nice's forwards had such a frustrating night.

Bright Arrey-Mbi - 7.0: An accomplished display from the defender. He was excellent on the ball, with high passing accuracy, and he won all of his ground duels. He made two key tackles and was positionally very sound. A very mature and reliable performance.

Midfielders

Víctor Gómez - 8.0: A fantastic all-around performance. He provided the brilliant assist for the winning goal, a moment of real quality. Beyond that, he created two other chances and was a constant outlet for his team. He also worked hard defensively, though he wasn't always successful in his tackles. His creativity was key.

Gorby - 7.5: He was the engine room in midfield. We noticed he was everywhere, breaking up play with five tackles and recovering the ball constantly. His pass completion was an incredible 95%, keeping his team ticking over. A really disciplined and effective performance that protected his back four brilliantly.

Florian Grillitsch - 6.5: A tidy and efficient performance before he was substituted. His passing was almost perfect, which helped Braga control the tempo when they had the ball. The yellow card was a downside, but he played his role well in a compact midfield structure.

Leonardo Lelo - 7.0: Very effective during his time on the pitch. He created a big chance and was a threat down the wing. His passing was accurate and he contributed defensively. He provided good balance to the team before being taken off as part of a planned change.

Forwards

Ricardo Horta - 7.0: The captain led by example with a hard-working display. He created two chances for his teammates and was always looking to link play. He didn't have any clear-cut chances himself but his movement and intelligence were crucial to his team's attacking structure. A selfless performance.

Amine El Ouazzani - 6.5: He was a handful for the Nice defence. He had four shots, though he should have done better with a big chance he missed. He worked hard, recovered the ball well for a forward, and was a constant physical presence. A bit wasteful, but his effort was undeniable.

Pau Víctor - 8.5: The man of the match, without a doubt. He took his one big chance with a clinical finish that ultimately won his team the match. Beyond the goal, he was a creative force, linking up play and drawing fouls. His performance was cut short by injury, but he had already made the decisive contribution. The highest rated player on the pitch.

Substitutes

João Moutinho - 6.5: Came on and brought his experience to help see out the game, keeping the ball well.

Gustaf Lagerbielke - 6.5: Slotted into the defense and helped maintain the clean sheet with a few important clearances.

Gabri Martínez - 6.5: Nearly scored late on, forcing a good save from the keeper.

Fran Navarro - 6.0: Worked hard and picked up a tactical yellow card.

Gabriel Moscardo - N/A: Came on for the final few minutes after Victor's injury.

Manager

C. Vicens - 8.0: A tactical masterclass. His team was organized, resilient, and clinical. They frustrated the home side, defended superbly as a unit, and took their chance when it came. His substitutions were smart, designed to manage the game and see out the victory. A perfect away game plan.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Pau Victor