But the score could have been much worse for Frédéric Antonetti’s men as the control of the game was largely in Auxerre’s favor for most of the match. Using the width of the field well, teammates Cheyrou and Pedretti, the metronomes of the evening, did not really have a hard time containing the Nice attacks, which perpetually sought a deflection from the returning Laslandes.
But if there is one player who is to be commended, it is definitely Hugo Lloris, who delivered one of his finest performances with a series of interventions as effective as they were skillful. Fortune favors the bold, and it was the crossbar of the azurean goalkeeper that even saved him in the 12th minute on an attempt by Frédéric Thomas. A good point, therefore, for a Hugo Lloris who is stepping up a level by helping his friends maintain a reasonable lead in a championship that next year will likely go on without Sedan and Nantes.
A match to quickly forget for the red and black before heading to Nancy, who has just achieved a great feat by winning in Lille (0-1), almost securing its future in League 1. Be careful of a misstep in Lorraine, lest the slim lead over ESTAC, who also has a tough game at Auxerre, melt away. Regarding the teams just ahead of Nice, PSG will host the formidable Lyon and Le Mans will host a dismal Nantes.
Four crucial matches are lined up for OGC Nice and after Nancy, it will be hosting a revitalized Paris Saint-Germain from Toulouse soil (1-3), a trip north to challenge Lens who is playing Bordeaux on Sunday at 6pm to solidify its second place in the standings and its Champions League ticket, and finally ending the season “at home” against Le Mans, who is not yet assured of staying up, though it would take a disaster for Le Mans to be relegated.
The finals follow one another and are not the same for the coach’s commando team, which has not found its “pace” and hopes to end the season with a “salute.”
