OGC Nice wins from the first day of Ligue 1 against Toulouse with a score of 3-2. A match full of twists where “Super Dario” Cvitanich scored two goals after seven months of abstinence. A first victory that gives confidence to the entire club.
The last victory of OGC Nice on the first day of Ligue 1 dates back to 1988, 26 years ago. A date to erase from the records and to do so they had to overcome Toulouse, last year’s winners at the Allianz Riviera. To start this new Ligue 1 season, Claude Puel relied on the same eleven that started the match against Barcelona a week ago, with 6 players under 25: Hassen – G.Puel, Genevois, Bodmer, Amavi – Pied, Eysseric, Hult, Bauthéac – Cvitanich.
Right from the start (3rd minute) it was the Argentine striker, Dario Cvitanich, who stood out but stumbled on the Toulouse goalkeeper, Zacharie Boucher. The Nice team dominated the start of the match and should have been awarded a penalty for a foul by Grigore on Cvitanich (17th minute), but it was only a matter of time. In the 22nd minute, the Allianz Riviera erupted for the first goal of the season for the Aiglons, scored by Dario Cvitanich, who had been silent since January 18th. After excellent work from Eysseric who shifted to Pied, a cross to the Argentine who fired a shot from 18 meters into the top corner.
“I worked a lot during the preparation, during the training camps to improve on what wasn’t right last season. I feel better mentally, I know what I am capable of, and it’s a pleasure to score again tonight,” says the home striker, Dario Cvitanich.
However, OGC Nice experienced a disastrous end to the first half, conceding two goals in two minutes from Braithwaite and Ben Yedder. A steal by Alain Casanova’s team, which had not shown an appealing face until then.
Returning from the locker room, Claude Puel’s men showed character in the manner of Pied, Hult, and Bosetti, who created chances. We reach the 63rd minute when Hult burst down the left side, saw his ball hit the crossbar and fall to Genevois who slipped it to Cvitanich. The Nice striker then scored a brace, putting Nice back on track. Less than five minutes later, Grégoire Puel, although jeered throughout the match, delivered a perfect pass onto the head of Alexy Bosetti, a header that ended in the top corner of the Toulouse goalkeeper. Nice leads 3-2 and would not be caught.
A successful debut for the Aiglons, which gives confidence to the whole squad, with a rediscovered Dario Cvitanich, an unstoppable Niklas Hult, and a very performance from Valentin Eysseric. A promising display to be confirmed next Saturday on the synthetic field of Lorient.
