Story byClaude Puel (L) coached Nice between 2012 and 2016 (Frederic DIDES)AFPSat, January 3, 2026 at 8:47 PM UTC·2 min readFormer Leicester coach Claude Puel guided Nice to a 1-1 draw with Strasbourg in Ligue 1 on Saturday as he started his second spell in charge by ending a six-game losing streak in the league. Argentina attacker Joaquin Panichelli opened the scoring for the visitors on the Cote d'Azur inside the first quarter of an hour. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNew signing Elye Wahi claimed the point for the hosts barely 10 minutes after the break, having joined on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday. Strasbourg head coach Liam Rosenior has been strongly linked with the Chelsea job, and hi current charges are in seventh, while Nice remain 13th. Frenchman Puel replaced Franck Haise on the French Riviera on Monday with Nice struggling just five points above the relegation play-off spot. The 64-year-old had been in charge of Nice between 2012 and 2016 before a two-year spell at Leicester. Puel has taken over an outfit with issues on and off the field, with their only win since late-October coming in December in a French Cup victory over second-tier Saint-Etienne. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn November, players, staff, and management had a run-in with 200 fans gathered in front of the training centre to express their anger at the Nice squad as they returned from a 3-1 defeat at Lorient. At the Allianz Riviera, Rosenior's outfit led thanks to Panichelli's 13th minute effort but failed to totally control the first half. At the interval, Puel brought 23-year-old Wahi from the bench and nine minutes later he brought the sides level. Former Marseille attacker Wahi had three chances to claim all three points and his best opportunity was stopped by Strasbourg goalkeeper Mike Penders. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementEarlier, Czech Republic attacker Pavel Sulc scored twice as Lyon beat Monaco 3-1 to maintain their hopes of European football next season. Later, fourth-placed Lille host Rennes with four points separating the two teams in the table. iwd/dmc.
