Derby delight for Nice

Nice moved above derby rivals Bastia and into the top half of Ligue 1 after a 2-0 win at the Allianz Riviera stadium.

Nice moved above derby rivals Bastia and into the top half of Ligue 1 after a 2-0 win at the Allianz Riviera stadium. Alexy Bosetti gave them an ideal start when he opened the scoring inside the opening few minutes and their hopes of victory were given a further boost when Bastia captain Yannick Cahuzac was given a red card for a rash aerial challenge on Albert Rafetraniaina. The visitors did have their chances to level in a game of few clear-cut opportunities, but Neal Maupay got the final touch to Valentin Eysseric's shot in the 72nd minute to ensure Nice claimed all three points. They started in emphatic fashion when Bosetti latched onto Timothee Kolodziejczak's pass before dribbling through the Bastia defence and finishing low past goalkeeper Jean-Louis Leca in the sixth minute. Julian Palmieri curled inches wide at the other end before Bastia's hopes suffered a blow when Cahuzac was given his marching orders five minutes before half-time after a reckless challenge in the air on Rafetraniaina. The game was descending into a scrappy affair although it settled down after the interval, with Nice going close to doubling their lead when Eric Bautheac saw a shot deflected over by Sebastien Squillaci. His miss was almost punished when Sambou Yatabare missed the target from close range after Squillaci and Romaric had combined from Palmieri's free-kick. Nice then doubled their lead in the 72nd minute when Eysseric collected Kolodziejczak's header and fired toward goal, with the ball taking a deflection off Maupay before nestling in the net. Francois Modesto had a chance to set up a tense finale minutes later but his overhead kick flew inches wide and Nice comfortably held on to move up to 10th in the standings and above Bastia on goal difference.