Alassane Plea hits three as Ligue 1 leaders Nice down Metz

African duo Georges Mandjeck and Habibou Diallo were on target for Metz in their 4-2 defeat by the league leaders

Alassane Plea was the star of the show for OGC Nice, hitting a hat-trick as the unlikely Ligue 1 leaders consolidated top spot with a 4-2 victory over Metz on Sunday.

27-year-old Cameroon international Georges Mandjeck drew Metz level in the 25th minute after Franco-Malian forward Plea had fired Nice into the lead in the 12th minute.

The goal was Mandjeck’s first for Metz since arriving from Turkey during the summer, but it was only brief respite for the home side, who were behind at the break when Plea, leading the line forLes Aiglons in Mario Balotelli’s absence, restored the visitors’ lead to four points after second-placed AS Monaco beat Montpellier 6-2 on Friday.

Senegalese forward Diallo was also on target for Metz, also scoring his first goal of the campaign after replacing Mandjeck, who was stretched off in the 68th minute after falling awkwardly. The 21-year-old immediately latched onto a flick-on within 60 seconds of coming off the bench to score Metz’s second of the night.

Nice continued to plough forward, and the pacy Plea completed his hat-trick in emphatic fashion before Wylan Cyprien capped a fine individual display with a low drive into the bottom corner for his side’s fourth and final of the game.

While Metz are struggling, Nice, with Jean Seri and Belhanda impressing, appear unbeatable at the moment. Plea, who is enjoying the best season of his career, deserves immense credit having now scored six goals in 10 Ligue 1 outings – as many as he’s managed in any single previous season.