Nice draw again

Nice recorded their fifth tie in seven Ligue 1 games this season with a 2-2 draw against Bastia.

Nice recorded their fifth tie in seven Ligue 1 games this season with a 2-2 draw against Bastia. Goals from Dario Cvitanich and Renato Civelli twice looked to have set Nice on their way to only a second victory of the campaign, but both times they were pegged back through goals from Jerome Rothen and Anthony Modeste. The result leaves Nice in mid-table on eight points, one more than Bastia who brought to an end a run of four successive defeats with today's draw. After a relatively quiet opening half-hour, Nice came alive with Mahamane Traore testing visiting goalkeeper Macedo Novaes before the hosts took the lead in the 31st minute. Didier Digard launched a counter-attack before releasing Cvitanich on the right and the Argentinian-born striker unleashed a powerful effort which Macedo Novaes failed to keep out despite getting his hands to the ball. Nice's lead lasted just 10 minutes, though, as Bastia drew level through Rothen's stunning free-kick from outside the area. The home side were back in front in the 57th minute when the unmarked Civelli headed home Eric Bautheac's free-kick, but once again Claude Puel's men could not hold on. Former France international Rothen was again involved as his corner found Modeste near the penalty spot and the former Nice striker guided his header past Joris Delle in the home goal. Modeste then came within inches of snatching a last-gasp victory for Bastia but his 89th-minute thunderbolt smashed against the crossbar as Nice survived a huge let-off.