In a match played without spectators, Nice triumphed with difficulty by the smallest of margins, 2 goals to 1. Well-assisted by defensive errors from Rennes’ back line, the “Aiglons” reignited their campaign, albeit still without assurance.
For this match, Claude Puel could count on his serial scorer Dario Cvitanich, who was absent on the first day, and the difference is clear. A finisher for the first goal and involved in Pied’s second goal, the diminutive Argentine striker has started his season strongly. A crucial offensive asset for the club from the Riviera.
In a closely contested game where neither team managed to make a decisive difference, Super Dario, as he is known in the Ray stands or Gym forums, emerged to open the scoring for last season’s fourth-place team in Ligue 1. Despite Nice hitting Costil’s goalposts twice, the Rennes goalkeeper’s errors allowed Claude Puel’s men to take the victory.
On the first goal, Théophile Catherine completely missed his header clearance from a Bauthéac cross. Lurking, Dario Cvitanich didn’t hesitate to open the scoring. On the second goal, it was Jebbour’s turn to falter by fumbling the ball in the area, and Pied capitalized to beat Costil. Previously, the Bretons had managed to equalize with a superb sequence from Portuguese striker Nelson Oliveira, on loan from Benfica Lisbon this summer.
After this equalizer, no one could say who might regain the advantage as the game lacked intensity. One could think that without these two mistakes, Nice probably wouldn’t have won. A fact lamented by Philippe Montanier, the Rennes coach: “We practically gifted them the match.”
In the end, the Aiglons can hold on to the victory and the strong return of Cvitanich, but significant defensive problems persist. According to Claude Puel, the performance was fully satisfactory and the gameplay was good. However, be wary of such deceiving victories that hide the shortcomings of a team still in its infancy, particularly in defense. Let’s hope for the Aiglons that the satisfied message their coach displayed to journalists was different in the privacy of the locker room after the match.
Photo credit: www.ogcnice.com
