Each line is generated from a finding that cleared its evidence bar; nothing here is a generic coaching point. The grey line says what it rests on; the button opens the sequences.
Copy the sides that escaped it: Lille got out 81% (long on 0%), Strasbourg got out 65% (long on 15%).
Average escape rate against them is 47%.
When you win it, go straight through the middle immediately.
33% of the xG they concede after losing the ball comes straight through the middle (34 attacks, 7 shots), against 20% of their own attacking xG through that channel.
Avoid conceding corners; mark Antoine Mendy first.
23% of their corners end in a shot; first contacts: Antoine Mendy (2), Jonathan Clauss (2), Mohamed Abdelmonem (2).
Where each player takes the ball in each phase of their possession, and who passes to whom. Event data has no off-ball positions, so this is the shape of their touches — the standard event-data proxy. A phase is defined by where the ball is, so the dots sit inside that phase's third (shaded): read the order and the width, not the depth of each line. Nice attack left to right.
attacking → · shaded = the build-up zone
431 build-up phases. Dot = the median spot of a player's touches in this phase; size = share of touches; lines = consecutive touches between two players.
attacking → · shaded = the progression zone
605 progression phases. Dot = the median spot of a player's touches in this phase; size = share of touches; lines = consecutive touches between two players.
attacking → · shaded = the final third zone
465 final third phases. Dot = the median spot of a player's touches in this phase; size = share of touches; lines = consecutive touches between two players.
Tackles, interceptions, recoveries, blocks, challenges and fouls in the opponent's final 40%.
195 in the window. The press on a build-up = the first two rows: 31 (3.9 a match).
| source | times | share | per match | shot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| press: settled build-up taken off them | 28 | 14% | 3.5 | 11% | |
| press: their restart forced into an error before they settled | 3 | 2% | 0.4 | 0% | |
| counter-press: won straight back after losing it | 15 | 8% | 1.9 | 13% | |
| second ball: the opponent touched it but never controlled it | 149 | 76% | 18.6 | 29% | |
| ↳ rebound after their own shot (saved or blocked) | 18 | 9% | 2.2 | 39% | |
| ↳ their cross / ball into the box, cleared | 79 | 41% | 9.9 | 30% | |
| ↳ their long ball, only headed or touched away | 11 | 6% | 1.4 | 27% | |
| ↳ after their own throw-in / set piece | 7 | 4% | 0.9 | 14% | |
| ↳ loose ball in their combination play (pass blocked or tackled) | 34 | 17% | 4.2 | 24% |
| opponent was | share | league | rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| passing forward | 34% | 23% | 4 / 18 | |
| dribbling or a loose touch | 24% | 28% | 13 / 18 | |
| passing to a full-back | 20% | 16% | 6 / 18 | |
| going long | 7% | 6% | 8 / 18 | |
| passing sideways | 2% | 7% | 16 / 18 | |
| passing to the keeper | 2% | 2% | 6 / 18 | |
| taking a throw-in | 2% | 4% | 11 / 18 | |
| passing back | 0% | 2% | 11 / 18 | |
| a loose ball | 0% | 0% | 1 / 18 |
The opponents who went long most (32% of build-ups) got out 32% of the time; those who mostly played short (10% long) got out 59%. That is a real difference (p=0.0073).
Best escapes: Lille 81%; Strasbourg 65%; Paris FC 53%. One dot per match; hover for the opponent.
Most often started by Niels Nkounkou (18), Xavier Mandza (14), Youssouf Ndayishimiye (14), Jonathan Clauss (12).
| lost in | losses | won back within 5s | led to a shot |
|---|---|---|---|
| own third | 43 | 30% | 16% |
| midfield | 184 | 22% | 6% |
| final third | 317 | 27% | 0% |
16.6 opponent attacks per match after winning the ball in open play that broke forward fast or reached the final third. Shading and % = share of the xG they produced, by the channel they used. Nice's goal is on the left. Central attacks carry more xG for every team, so compare with Nice's own attacking xG in the same kind of channel (centre, or the average flank): right 47% conceded vs 40% own, centre 33% conceded vs 20% own, left 20% conceded vs 40% own.
Every real turnover, named by the situation it came from. "Fast" = the side with the ball reached the final third within 10 seconds. Only real turnovers appear here: for everything the press wins high, including restarts it forced into an error, see "Every ball won in the opponent’s third" in the press section.
| type | times | share | fast | shot | xG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won high from a settled build-up (press) | 25 | 4%lg 5% | 48% | 12%lg 7% | 0.4 | |
| Won after their long possession (10+ passes) | 70 | 12%lg 11% | 16% | 1%lg 3% | 0.2 | |
| Won straight back after losing it (counter-press) | 80 | 14%lg 12% | 34% | 5%lg 6% | 0.2 | |
| Won by stopping their counter | 35 | 6%lg 4% | 34% | 3%lg 0% | 0.1 | |
| Won in midfield | 133 | 23%lg 25% | 44% | 5%lg 7% | 0.5 | |
| Won deep in own third | 198 | 34%lg 37% | 16% | 2%lg 3% | 0.2 | |
| Won from their set piece | 34 | 6%lg 5% | 9% | 0%lg 0% | 0.0 |
| type | times | share | opponent fast | shot against | xG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lost in own build-up under pressure | 37 | 6%lg 5% | 51% | 16%lg 8% | 0.4 | |
| Lost after own long possession (10+ passes) | 94 | 16%lg 11% | 21% | 2%lg 3% | 0.1 | |
| Lost straight after winning it | 59 | 10%lg 12% | 42% | 7%lg 7% | 0.2 | |
| Lost during own counter | 38 | 6%lg 4% | 5% | 0%lg 3% | 0.0 | |
| Lost in midfield | 132 | 22%lg 25% | 33% | 5%lg 7% | 0.4 | |
| Lost in the final third (attack broke down) | 211 | 36%lg 36% | 13% | 1%lg 3% | 0.4 | |
| Lost from own set piece | 22 | 4%lg 5% | 14% | 0%lg 3% | 0.0 |
Every controlled possession is typed by how it was played, and every real turnover (a possession that was established and then lost) by what the losing side was doing, how it lost the ball and what the winner did next. "Settled" = sustained or worked possessions; "unsettled" = short, second-ball, counter and direct possessions.
| type | times | share | ended in a shot | avg passes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sustained circulation (10+ passes) | 121 | 17%lg 13% | 3%lg 12% | 14.4 | |
| worked possession (4-9 passes) | 231 | 32%lg 29% | 9%lg 9% | 6.0 | |
| direct attack | 80 | 11%lg 11% | 2%lg 3% | 1.5 | |
| short possession (0-3 passes) | 110 | 15%lg 22% | 4% | 1.7 |
| the side losing it was in… | times | fast attack | secured | lost straight back | can’t keep it | shot | xG | how it was lost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sustained circulation (10+ passes) | 98 | 22% | 9% | 9% | 51% | 2% | 0.1 | pass cut out 60, long ball lost 20 | |
| worked possession (4-9 passes) | 178 | 22% | 15% | 12% | 47% | 5% | 0.8 | pass cut out 92, long ball lost 54 | |
| direct attack | 61 | 33% | 20% | 7% | 33% | 2% | 0.1 | long ball lost 33, pass cut out 20 | |
| short possession (0-3 passes) | 93 | 37% | 8% | 5% | 46% | 9% | 0.4 | pass cut out 41, bad touch 20 | |
| second-ball possession | 93 | 20% | 13% | 11% | 51% | 2% | 0.2 | pass cut out 51, long ball lost 21 | |
| counter / fast transition | 48 | 4% | 12% | 12% | 62% | 0% | 0.0 | pass cut out 33, bad touch 8 | |
| set piece | 22 | 14% | 14% | 14% | 45% | 0% | 0.0 | pass cut out 9, long ball lost 9 |
| mechanism | times | share | led to a shot against | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pass cut out | 306 | 52%lg 53% | 2% | |
| long ball lost | 154 | 26%lg 20% | 1% | |
| bad touch | 63 | 11%lg 14% | 6% | |
| failed dribble | 36 | 6%lg 6% | 3% | |
| tackled / dispossessed | 28 | 5%lg 6% | 11% | |
| error | 6 | 1% | 100% |
| the opponent was in… | times | fast attack | secured | lost straight back | can’t keep it | shot | xG | how it was lost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sustained circulation (10+ passes) | 72 | 18% | 15% | 12% | 47% | 1% | 0.2 | pass cut out 37, long ball lost 15 | |
| worked possession (4-9 passes) | 148 | 24% | 19% | 5% | 45% | 4% | 0.6 | pass cut out 77, long ball lost 33 | |
| direct attack | 66 | 35% | 20% | 9% | 30% | 2% | 0.1 | long ball lost 29, pass cut out 25 | |
| short possession (0-3 passes) | 115 | 36% | 9% | 3% | 48% | 4% | 0.3 | pass cut out 61, long ball lost 19 | |
| second-ball possession | 92 | 27% | 8% | 7% | 55% | 4% | 0.3 | pass cut out 57, long ball lost 15 | |
| counter / fast transition | 48 | 31% | 15% | 6% | 42% | 2% | 0.1 | pass cut out 30, bad touch 6 | |
| set piece | 34 | 9% | 6% | 9% | 68% | 0% | 0.0 | pass cut out 19, long ball lost 12 |
Fast attack = their final third or box reached within 10s. Secured = kept 10s+ or 4+ passes. Lost straight back = controlled, then lost within 5s. Can’t keep it = won the ball but never got it under control (cleared it, headed it away, blocked it or lost it at once).
Each phase split into the situations it is made of, every row with its league median and clips. Shots are their own category: a possession that ends in a shot has finished, it has not lost the ball.
| type | times | share | got out | reached the box | lost in build-up | shot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| from the keeper / goal kick, played out short | 42 | 18%lg 19% | 67% | 10% | 31% | 5% | |
| from the keeper / goal kick, went long (bypass) | 31 | 13%lg 10% | 26% | 13% | 65% | 3% | |
| from the keeper / goal kick, stuck / recycled | 15 | 7% | 0% | 7% | 60% | 0% | |
| from the back line, played out short | 16 | 7%lg 10% | 75% | 12% | 31% | 0% | |
| from the back line, went long (bypass) | 9 | 4%lg 4% | 22% | 0% | 56% | 0% | |
| from the back line, stuck / recycled | 5 | 2% | 0% | 0% | 60% | 0% | |
| from a throw-in, played out short | 13 | 6%lg 6% | 62% | 8% | 31% | 0% | |
| from a throw-in, went long (bypass) | 10 | 4%lg 2% | 30% | 0% | 70% | 0% | |
| from a throw-in, stuck / recycled | 5 | 2% | 0% | 0% | 40% | 0% | |
| straight after winning it, played out short | 54 | 23%lg 18% | 63% | 26% | 33% | 0% | |
| straight after winning it, went long (bypass) | 20 | 9%lg 8% | 40% | 10% | 50% | 5% | |
| straight after winning it, stuck / recycled | 10 | 4% | 0% | 10% | 40% | 0% |
| outcome | times | share | opponent shot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| won it high | 23 | 12%lg 11% | 0% | |
| forced long, then won it back | 39 | 20%lg 19% | 0% | |
| forced long, they kept it | 2 | 1%lg 6% | 0% | |
| they played through short | 79 | 41%lg 36% | 6% | |
| kept them stuck (recycled back) | 52 | 27%lg 26% | 0% |
Won high = the ball won in the opponent's own third. Forced long = the opponent left its third with a long ball (then either lost it in that possession, or kept it).
| created by | shots | share of open play | xG | xG per shot | goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cross | 12 | 17%lg 13% | 1.3 | 0.11lg 0.10 | 1 | |
| cutback | 6 | 9%lg 6% | 0.6 | 0.10lg 0.10 | 0 | |
| through ball | 3 | 4%lg 1% | 0.5 | 0.16lg 0.19 | 1 | |
| short pass / combination | 34 | 49%lg 50% | 2.4 | 0.07lg 0.08 | 3 | |
| long ball | 1 | 1%lg 6% | 0.1 | 0.07lg 0.07 | 0 | |
| individual (dribble / self-made) | 6 | 9%lg 10% | 0.4 | 0.07lg 0.10 | 0 | |
| rebound / second ball | 7 | 10%lg 10% | 0.7 | 0.10lg 0.09 | 0 | |
| corner (set piece) | 21 | – | 1.1 | 0.05 | 1 | |
| free kick (indirect) (set piece) | 1 | – | 0.0 | 0.04 | 0 | |
| direct free kick (set piece) | 1 | – | 0.0 | 0.02 | 0 |
| created by | shots | share | xG | xG per shot | goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cross | 8 | 11%lg 13% | 0.9 | 0.11 | 0 | |
| cutback | 4 | 6%lg 6% | 0.4 | 0.09 | 1 | |
| through ball | 3 | 4%lg 3% | 0.6 | 0.21 | 2 | |
| short pass / combination | 33 | 47%lg 50% | 2.4 | 0.07 | 3 | |
| long ball | 4 | 6%lg 6% | 0.6 | 0.15 | 0 | |
| individual (dribble / self-made) | 14 | 20%lg 9% | 1.2 | 0.09 | 1 | |
| rebound / second ball | 4 | 6%lg 10% | 1.0 | 0.25 | 1 | |
| corner (set piece) | 12 | – | 1.4 | 0.11 | 0 | |
| free kick (indirect) (set piece) | 11 | – | 0.8 | 0.07 | 1 | |
| direct free kick (set piece) | 1 | – | 0.0 | 0.02 | 0 | |
| throw-in (set piece) | 1 | – | 0.0 | 0.04 | 0 | |
| penalty (set piece) | 2 | – | 1.6 | 0.79 | 1 |
| ending | shots | share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| goal | 6 | 7%lg 10% | |
| keeper held it | 9 | 10%lg 12% | |
| keeper parried it | 11 | 12%lg 12% | |
| blocked | 24 | 26%lg 23% | |
| off target | 39 | 42%lg 38% | |
| hit the woodwork | 3 | 3% |
Penalties excluded. A "save" by an outfield player is a block.
After their keeper held a shot (11), median release 10s; league share turned into a fast attack 7%:
| their keeper held it, then… | times | share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| keeper released fast -> fast attack | 2 | 18% | |
| keeper released quickly, no fast attack | 2 | 18% | |
| keeper slowed the game | 7 | 64% |
After their own shot was held by the opponent keeper (9); league share broken against fast 8%:
| the opponent keeper held it, then… | times | share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| keeper released fast -> fast attack | 1 | 11% | |
| keeper released quickly, no fast attack | 1 | 11% | |
| keeper slowed the game | 7 | 78% |
Fast = the keeper's side reached its final third within 15s of the save. Quick = first pass within 6s.
The other half of each phase above. Their own phases break down when they lose the ball (real turnovers only); their press and block break down when the opponent gets through. Each card: how often, how, where, who is involved, and what it costs them.
156 balls lost in 431 build-up phases (36%)
giveaways per 10 build-up phases: 3.3/10 · league 2.5/10
What it costs: 40% turned into a fast attack · 37% the opponent can’t keep · 6% led to a shot · 0.5 xG
189 balls lost in 605 middle-third phases (31%)
giveaways per 10 middle-third phases: 2.8/10 · league 2.8/10
What it costs: 28% turned into a fast attack · 40% the opponent can’t keep · 5% led to a shot · 0.6 xG
216 balls lost in 465 final-third phases (46%)
deliveries into the box that fail to arrive: 56% · league 56%
What it costs: 8% turned into a fast attack · 63% the opponent can’t keep · 1% led to a shot · 0.5 xG
73 deliveries into the box did not arrive
48 of 63 counter-attacks lost (76%)
attacking transitions that produce a shot: 13% · league 17%
What it costs: 4% turned into a fast attack · 62% the opponent can’t keep · 0% led to a shot · 0.0 xG
63 counters: 9 ended in a shot, 48 were lost, 6 slowed down or went out
80 of 172 opponent build-ups got out (47%)
opponent build-ups that get out cleanly: 47% · league 49%
What it costs: 25% reached the final third · 5% led to a shot · 0.3 xG
Sides are their own: "down the left" = down their left.
100 box entries in 408 opponent final-third phases (25%)
opponent final-third phases that create: 45% · league 48%
What it costs: 37% led to a shot · 5.2 xG
Sides are their own.
22 set pieces lost in open play
What it costs: 14% turned into a fast attack · 45% the opponent can’t keep · 0% led to a shot · 0.0 xG
Their corners and free kicks that were lost in open play, and what the opponent did next.
Takers: Jonathan Clauss (26), Gauthier Hein (16), Sofiane Diop (2)
First contact in the box: Antoine Mendy (2), Jonathan Clauss (2), Mohamed Abdelmonem (2), Mohammed Amoura (2), Djibril Coulibaly (1)
What each player does in the phases, counted over the window. Only lines that clear a minimum count are shown.
The comparison behind the report: each behaviour as a rate per opportunity, ranked among the 18 Ligue 1 clubs' full seasons, with how many of the 8 matches sat on the same side of the league median. "Style" is never a verdict.
| behaviour | Nice | league median | rank | matches | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style | opponent build-ups forced long but kept by the opponent | 1% | 6% | 18 / 18 | 8/8 | |
| weakness | chance-creation phases that produced a shot | 27% | 35% | 18 / 18 | 7/8 | |
| weakness | build-ups whose possession ended in a shot | 1% | 6% | 18 / 18 | 7/8 | |
| style | controlled possessions that are short possessions (0-3 passes) | 15% | 22% | 18 / 18 | 8/8 | |
| strength | build-ups that left the own third (or went for it) | 87% | 80% | 1 / 18 | 8/8 | |
| weakness | middle-third phases whose possession ended in a shot | 5% | 8% | 18 / 18 | 5/8 | |
| style | turnovers lost during an own counter | 6% | 4% | 2 / 18 | 6/8 | |
| weakness | non-penalty xG per final-third sequence | 0.01 xG | 0.02 xG | 18 / 18 | 6/8 | |
| weakness | sustained circulation (10+ passes) that ended in a shot | 3% | 12% | 18 / 18 | 7/8 | |
| style | build-ups that stayed stuck / recycled | 15% | 21% | 18 / 18 | 7/8 | |
| style | final-third entries down the right | 52% | 44% | 2 / 18 | 7/8 | |
| style | turnovers won by stopping a counter | 6% | 4% | 1 / 18 | 7/8 | |
| strength | final-third phases that created (box entry or key pass) | 52% | 47% | 2 / 18 | 6/8 | |
| style | forward drop link per 100 build up phases | 1.4/100 | 2.8/100 | 17 / 18 | 6/8 | |
| style | overlap per 100 progression phases | 4.0/100 | 2.4/100 | 2 / 18 | 5/8 | |
| style | box entries from the wide channels | 31% | 20% | 2 / 18 | 7/8 | |
| style | run in behind per 100 final third phases | 8.2/100 | 6.0/100 | 2 / 18 | 5/8 | |
| style | cut inside per 100 final third phases | 0.9/100 | 2.1/100 | 17 / 18 | 6/8 |
| phase | route | times | shot | their average |
|---|
| split | behaviour | a | b | p | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| against the more aggressive pressers vs the deeper / passive sides | final-third entries by carrying it in | 40% | 9% | 0.0 | |
| against the more aggressive pressers vs the deeper / passive sides | build-up exits down the right | 28% | 46% | 0.0138 | |
| against the more aggressive pressers vs the deeper / passive sides | giveaways regained within 5s (counter-press) | 21% | 29% | 0.0272 |
| date | opponent | result | npxG | opponent press | what happened |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-22 | vs Lorient | D 0-0 | 0.9–1.1 | sat deep / passive | Drew 0-0 (0.92 v 1.13 xG). Lorient defended deep and let them have the ball (strict PPDA 22.2, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: middle-third phases that progressed into the final third 90%, far above their usual 69%. |
| 2026-08-30 | at Paris FC | L 0-3 | 0.9–1.4 | sat deep / passive | Lost 0-3 and the chances agreed (0.91 v 1.42 xG). Paris FC defended deep and let them have the ball (strict PPDA 21.3, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: chance-creation phases that produced a shot 42%, far above their usual 27%. |
| 2026-09-05 | vs Le Mans | D 1-1 | 0.6–0.7 | sat deep / passive | Drew 1-1 (0.62 v 0.72 xG). Le Mans defended deep and let them have the ball (strict PPDA 21.9, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: box entries with a cross 0%, far below their usual 7%. |
| 2026-09-12 | at Auxerre | L 0-1 | 0.8–1.3 | sat deep / passive | Lost 0-1 and the chances agreed (0.83 v 1.29 xG). Auxerre defended deep and let them have the ball (strict PPDA 23.4, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: ball given away during build-up 21.0/match, far above their usual 17.8/match. |
| 2026-09-20 | vs Lille | W 2-1 | 1.1–1.7 | sat deep / passive | Won 2-1 on fewer chances (1.06 v 1.70 xG). Lille defended deep and let them have the ball (strict PPDA 20.5, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: opponent build-ups that got out cleanly 81%, far above their usual 46%. |
| 2026-10-11 | vs Strasbourg | W 2-1 | 1.1–0.8 | mid-intensity press | Won 2-1, chances 1.07 v 0.83 xG. Strasbourg pressed at roughly league-average intensity (strict PPDA 14.1, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: final-third phases that created (box entry or key pass) 72%, far above their usual 53%. |
| 2026-10-18 | at Lyon | L 1-2 | 1.1–1.3 | mid-intensity press | Lost 1-2 and the chances agreed (1.07 v 1.26 xG). Lyon pressed at roughly league-average intensity (strict PPDA 17.9, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: final-third entries by carrying it in 60%, far above their usual 23%. |
| 2026-10-23 | at Brest | W 2-1 | 0.6–0.9 | mid-intensity press | Won 2-1 on fewer chances (0.58 v 0.93 xG). Brest pressed at roughly league-average intensity (strict PPDA 16.3, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: chance-creation phases that produced a shot 15%, far below their usual 27%. |