Despite a sometimes sluggish performance, Lucien Favre’s men start the second half of the season on a high note at home and maintain their good momentum in the league. Style can wait: the essentials are secured.
History will not remember much from this first home game of 2018 in the league. “Only the 3 points,” one might be tempted to write. For this return to L1, the Gym indeed seemed to have frozen legs. Lacking in realism, they nonetheless managed to do the hardest part: score. They then managed their lead with professionalism and watched with satisfaction in the last quarter of an hour when Super Mario took to the field and added more fluidity to the proceedings.
Before taking the lead, Lucien Favre’s group was fortunate to see Konaté’s first header boxed away by a focused Benitez after just 30 seconds of play. Things could have gotten complicated from the start, and fortunately, the Argentine goalkeeper showed dedication and seriousness…
With only one change in the starting lineup compared to Monaco (Marlon replaced Dante in a like-for-like swap), the Aiglons displayed less cohesion than they did against their local rivals earlier in the week. Less inspiration. Less drive. In midfield, passes “stuttered,” which slowed down the rhythm of the entire block.
In terms of opportunities, the first 45 minutes yielded a rather meager return. Lees-Melou let a chance go by, Plea did not apply enough power (9’); Saint-Maximin cut in from the left towards the center and unleashed two quick shots – the first went over, the second deflected by Bouet (9’ and 15’); Plea missed the frame by aiming too wide with his second attempt (20’). In short, Nice seldom worried their visitors before the break. The latter, well set up in a solid 4-2-3-1, defended rigorously and took advantage of every local hesitation to pose a threat, well orchestrated by a generous Kakuta, both in defense and in offensive inspiration.
The playmaker often troubled Tameze in reclaiming possession and directed play accurately. In the 26th minute, he retrieved a ball from a former V.A. player’s feet, perfectly launched Bourgaud, but the latter again faced the rock-like Benitez. At the end of the first half, Moussa Konaté missed his control while racing alone towards the goal, and the two teams returned to the locker rooms with a scoreless draw.
LEES-MELOU REWARDED
The Allianz expected more from their protégés. Rightfully so. Lees-Melou, set up by Srarfi, entered the box as soon as the 22 players returned to the field, but his shot found the North goalkeeper’s gloves. Shortly before the hour mark, Srarfi laid off for Burner – the pair formed by the two young Aiglons was indeed the most interesting on the field –, and the full-back’s shot nearly resulted in an own goal. The ball eventually ended its course out of play, and Gym fans genuinely began to wonder what would allow their team to come out victorious.
When, half an hour from the end, Super Mario started warming up – cheered on by the ardent supporters, the answer finally came from Pierre Lees-Melou. After missing a chance a few minutes earlier, the number 8 had the merit of not giving up. Of not losing heart. Taking advantage of superb work by Saint-Maximin, he attacked the Amiens box and struck hard. His shot was deflected by a defender’s leg, hit the bar, and relieved all the Niçois (1-0, 65’).
Benitez calmly saved a shot from Gakpé immediately afterward, and it seemed the hardest part was done.
The Azurens, liberated, created a series of chances during the final quarter of an hour. None allowed them to kill off the game, but the promoted side, stunned by the opening goal, no longer posed a threat to the red and black goal, except for a nice volley from Bodmer that went off target (88’).
Three days before a derby to play in Monaco, the Aiglons consolidated their 6th place in the standings, ending the series of two defeats (in cup competitions) that marked the beginning of the year. The real good news of the evening.
