Nice on the rise

Nice moved up to fourth in Ligue 1 following a narrow 1-0 win at Bastia.

Nice moved up to fourth in Ligue 1 with a narrow 1-0 win at Bastia. Sixteen-year-old Neal Maupay scored the only goal of the game just after the hour mark as the visitors boosted their European hopes. Defeat was harsh on the Corsicans, who gave as good as they got and were denied by the bar in the second half, but it left them three points above the bottom three. The hosts started well, with Jerome Rothen charging toward goal and seeing his powerful shot deflected behind by defender Gregoire Puel. Rothen then turned provider, crossing for Anthony Modeste to send a header over the top. At the other end, Puel's ball picked out Valentin Eysseric at the far post, but the young midfielder nudged his effort inches wide. Bastia came mighty close to going in front six minutes after the break when Modeste's fierce shot nicked off Puel and smacked off the bar. The hosts had goalkeeper Mickael Landreau to thank moments later, though, as he produced an excellent reflex save to deny Eric Bautheac. Landreau was beaten in the 61st minute, though, Fabrice Abriel making ground and then crossing to the far post where Maupay diverted the ball home from close range. Bastia tried to respond, but they could not find a way to break down their solid opponents, with Sylvain Marchal's volley from a Wahbi Khazri cross which was blocked by keeper David Ospina as close as they came to taking a point.