Montpellier resurgence continues

Montpellier continued their fine form to move into the top six of Ligue 1 with a 2-1 home victory over Nice.Eric Bautheac stroked home a 36th-minute penalty to give Nice a surprise lead but Bryan Dabo levelled moments before the break and Paraguay international Lucas Barrios struck midway through the second half to give Montpellier a fifth win in seven games.Nice have now gone five matches since winning three in a row after the winter break and lie in 13th place in Ligue 1.Despite a bright start from Montpellier it was their goalkeeper who was called into action twice early on.Geoffrey Jourdren was forced into a solid save to deny Carlos Eduardo before he turned Alassane Plea's effort over the bar after Jordan Amavi had picked out the Nice forward.Montpellier responded but Morgan Sanson could only drag a shot just past the post as both sides looked to gain a foothold in the encounter.Nice did just that when Mathieu Deplange brought down Niklas Hult and referee Ruddy Buquet pointed to the spot, Bautheac confidently slotting it beyond Jourdren for Nice's first league goal in almost seven hours of football.But the visitors could not hold onto their lead until half-time as Montpellier hit back with just a minute to play before the break.Anthony Mounier broke down the left and, despite Amavi getting a good enough touch on his delivery, Dabo was on hand at the back post to poke the ball home.Montpellier continued to press after the interval and Mounier should have put them ahead but he got it all wrong after Sanson's pass fell kindly for him.The home fans did not have to wait much longer though when, on 66 minutes, Barrios' clever back-heel released Souleymane Camara and after his shot was saved by Mouez Hassan, the Paraguayan was on hand to tap home.Camara was given another chance to beat Hassan when he escaped the Nice defence but the hosts' keeper stood up well to block the effort and the visitors failed to muster a response in the final quarter.