Nice lose ground on Monaco after home loss to Bastia

PARIS -- Nice lost ground in the race for second place in the French league after losing 2-0 at home to Corsican side Bastia on Friday.

The match changed when Nice center half Paul Baysse was sent off in the 57th minute for fouling Bastia midfielder Floyd Ayite as the last defender.

Bastia scored four minutes later when forward Sadio Diallo curled in a free-kick from 25 meters and, three minutes after, Ayite made it 2-0, taking advantage of a poor clearance to fire in off the post.

There were no away fans due to previous hostilities between the fierce rival supporters, but plenty of friction on the field with a further eight players booked altogether.

Nice is in third, eight points behind second-place Monaco, which plays at Nantes on Sunday.