Once again trailing in the score, the Gym managed to secure a victory on the LOSC field (1-2), thanks in part to the return to form of Mario Balotelli.
This trip to Lille, where they have been quite successful (9 matches without a loss in the North), was approached by the Rouge et Noir with an identical lineup to the one that defeated Bordeaux on Sunday, a rarity this season, illustrating both the Nice coach’s satisfaction after the victory over the Girondins and the limited options available to him due to a well-stocked infirmary.
This would not be the only resemblance to last Sunday’s match. The Aiglons, after a good start, allowed the opening score on their opponent’s first half-chance. A corner cleared to the center, a shot from Amadou deflected by Ricardo, and LOSC takes the lead (1-0, 14th minute) against the run of play.
But, like against the Girondins, the Aiglons do not seem perturbed and continue playing their football. The reward is immediate. Belhanda orchestrates in the center, shifts it to Eysseric on the left side. He sees Balotelli’s good run and serves him perfectly. The result is clear, a volley shot from the instep by Balotelli, unfazed, unstoppable for Enyeama. A high-class goal from Super Mario, his 12th in Ligue 1 this season, but his first away from the Allianz Riviera (1-1, 17th minute)!
A Balotelli who offers numerous solutions within an altered and unsettled Lille defense! Shortly after his equalizer, he breaks through on the left and serves Ricardo, narrowly beaten. There is danger with every ball in the Dogs’ 30 meters. The Portuguese player has another opportunity on a long ball from Le Marchand, with an off-balance header that almost deceives Enyeama.
Nice dominates but does not capitalize. A reminder with a clearance from Cardinale blocked by Eder, onto Lopes, who sets up the Portuguese tormentor. Turning, he strikes hard from 6 meters, but Cardi’ makes up for his blunder with a superb save on the line (27th minute).
With nearly 70% ball possession in the first half, the Azuréens drive the Lille midfield crazy. The punishment seems inevitable, but the Gym misses a few chances.
On a perfect pull-back cross from Ricardo, Balotelli sends a shot that doesn’t deceive Enyeama (44th minute). Lille thought they had done the hardest part in this first half but crumbles at the worst moment. Just before the whistle sending both teams to the locker rooms, Balotelli steps out to conclude a well-executed action initiated by Seri through the center, then Ricardo striking with his left foot. The Portuguese’s shot is parried by Enyeama to Super Mario, lurking for the 2-1 (45th minute).
The second half will be a bit different. Struggling more in the Lille half, the Rouge et Noir would even wait until the 70th minute to threaten Enyeama again, through Valentin Eysseric. Some silly ball losses provide opportunities to the Lille team, which the locals fail to exploit.
So much so that Yoan Cardinale only needs to intervene once in the end, on a shot from Xeka at the edge of the area (84th minute).
At the final whistle, the Gym temporarily secures the 2nd place in Ligue 1, awaiting the weekend’s matches. And they await their numerous fans next Saturday against Nancy to continue dreaming, without setting limits.
The stat: 2
Mario Balotelli scored his first two away goals of the season tonight. He had to wait until 32 matches to open his account away from the Allianz Riviera (in Ligue 1 only).
He indeed scored in Krasnodar in the Europa League and in Bordeaux in the Coupe de la Ligue.
Lucien Favre’s reaction:
“We’re not going to give up. We’ll continue to take the matches one at a time. We controlled the first half well. In the second, they were quicker in their pressing. We had trouble bringing the ball out. The goal we conceded was avoidable, as was the corner that led to it. We changed systems, switching to 4-3-2-1 takes time, but we can switch back to 4-3-3 tomorrow.”
Valentin Eysseric’s reaction:
“The 2nd place is anecdotal, seeing that Paris has matches in hand (2). We wanted to achieve something here. We played our game, even though we endured a bit in the 2nd half. Records? That’s for outsiders; we don’t focus on that too much. We have to keep going: we have 6 difficult matches remaining. Winning tonight was important, we deserve it. The mindset? It needs to be better from the start of the game because we often fall behind. But we have the merit of coming back, of not panicking when trailing. Nobody gives up!”
