Tiemoue Bakayoko struck late to boost 10-man Monaco's hopes of Champions League football next season with the only goal of their dour 1-0 Riveria derby win against Nice on Saturday.

Despite being a clash between the second and third placed Ligue 1 teams it failed to ignite the Stade Louis II and had looked to be heading for a goalless draw before Bakayoko struck after 81 minutes.

A long free-kick off the boot of Portuguese midfielder Moutinho found Bakayoko who slotted in after the ball had bounced in front of Nice goalkeeper Yoan Cardinale.

The win allows Monaco, second behind runaway Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain, to move six points clear of Nice, who stay third but whose position is now threatened by Angers, two points behind, who host Lyon later on Saturday.

Apart from the goal the only incident of note during the match was the sending off of Monaco's Moroccan midfielder Nabil Dirar after he vigorously disputed a call by referee Tony Chapron.

"He shouldn't have reacted like that, that's for sure, but before the red card the situation was hard to understand, a warning for a minor fault," said Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim.

"But the players showed that apart from PSG, there is no team better than us. We know each other well, we know how to play at 10 and showed this.

"The players had a great match."

"Paradoxically the sending off seemed to do them good," said Nice coach Claude Puel.

"If they continue to be successful like that they can even envisage catching Paris," added Puel of Monaco who trail Paris Saint-Germain by 21 points.

The reigning three-time champions will be looking to extend their Ligue 1 unbeaten streak at bitter rivals Marseille on Sunday as the hosts bid to end their own record winless run at home.