Falcao scores brace in Nice win as Monaco go three points clear

Radamel Falcao scored a second-half brace as Monaco defeated Nice 3-0 yesterday to carve open a three-point lead ahead of their Cote d’Azur rivals at the top of Ligue 1. Valere Germain headed in the opening goal on 47 minutes at the Stade Louis II before Falcao turned in Monaco’s second with an hour gone.
The Colombian stroked home a third for the hosts nine minutes from time as Monaco avenged a 4-0 thrashing from the reverse fixture in September. Leonardo Jardim’s side moved three points clear of Nice after dealing the visitors just their second loss of the season. Reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain were six adrift ahead of their trip to Dijon late last night. Monaco boss Jardim recalled a host of internationals rested for Wednesday’s 5-4 extra-time win over third-tier Chambly in the last 32 of the French Cup, with Falcao, Bernardo Silva and Danijel Subasic all returning to the line-up.
Nice had conceded a league-low 15 goals before arriving in Monaco and goalkeeper Yoan Cardinale was well protected in a quiet first half, turning behind a firm strike from Germain in a rare chance of note.
But Monaco, who are averaging a European-leading three goals a game this term, punished Nice for slack defending with just two minutes gone in the second half.
Germain was left unmarked as Benjamin Mendy whipped in a teasing cross from the left and the Frenchman planted a header beyond a Cardinale for his eighth goal of the campaign. Monaco doubled their lead in similar circumstances. The ball was again worked out to Mendy on the left flank, this time the full-back crossed low for Falcao to steer into the roof of the net.
Nice’s top scorer Alassane Plea missed a huge opportunity to cut the deficit when he failed to properly connect with Jean-Michael Seri’s delivery into the area. Falcao killed the contest by slotting into the far corner from Thomas Lemar’s cut-back to move onto 14 goals, behind only Edinson Cavani (21) and Alexandre Lacazette (18) in Ligue 1 this season. Valentin Eysseric struck the post late on, while goalkeeper Danijel Subasic pulled off a sharp stop to keep out a header from Plea as Nice’s run of nine matches without defeat came to an end.
On Friday,  Dimitri Payet made his Ligue 1 debut for Marseille but the star West Ham recruit’s appearance failed to pay off as his new employers lost 1-0 at Metz.
The 29-year-old midfielder had come on to a standing ovation in Tuesday’s Cup tie against Lyon after 94 minutes with the game deadlocked 1-1 and heading into extra-time.
Marseille went on to win that 2-1 to book their ticket in the semi-finals, but his presence failed to help Marseille’s fortunes this time. He was introduced by Marseille coach Rudia Garcia in the 55th minute for Bouna Sarr with Bafetimbi Gomis, who scored a hat-trick last time out, replacing Florian Thauvin.
Seconds later Payet sent in a freekick headed in by Gomis only for the effort to be ruled offside. Marseille, who trounced Montpellier 5-1 last week, looked to be heading for a point until Yann Joufre scored for the hosts five minutes after taking the place of Opa N’Guette. This eighth defeat of the season left Marseille in sixth, with Metz climbing out of the relegation zone. Marseille also signed veteran Patrice Evra, injured for this outing, on a free transfer from Juventus.
Result
Monaco 3 (Germain 47, Falcao 60, 81) Nice 0
Played Friday: Metz 1 (Jouffre 82) Marseille 0