#3 OGC Nice: A
Prior to PSG’s stabilising and Monaco’s resurgence, there was a brief time at the start of the Ligue 1 season where Nice looked favourites to lift the title. At the close of the campaign however, it was not to be, although they still finished a remarkable third and earned a Champions League qualifying place.
Although the club moved up just one position from their fourth-place finish in 2015/16, they collected fifteen more points and the squad is undoubtedly stronger than at the end of last term.
Last summer, the French outfit invested by bringing in the likes of Arnaud Souquet, Wylan Cyprien, Dante, Younès Belhanda (albeit on loan) and Mario Balotelli. The eccentric Italian was the most notable of the names and delivered with 15 goals and a single assist, whilst Wylan Cyprien proved to be an absolute steal in the centre of the park.
The midfielder, signed from Lens last summer, finished the season with the highest overall performance score of any other Nice player (969), according to Squawka Statistics, scoring eight goals and maintaining an average pass completion rate of 89%. Nice proved competent away from home this term and such stability emanated from Cyprien’s top-class displays.
The 33-year-old Brazilian defender Dante proved he’s still as good as ever in a fine debut term with Nice, averaging seven defensive actions per game. Evidence then that it was Les Aiglons’ wise reinforcements through the spine of the team which allowed them to challenge for Ligue 1 so fiercely this campaign.
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