OGC Nice started its 2016 year in Ligue 1 with a draw in Lille. A lesser evil for a team that was tossed around in the north.
A perfectly measured free-kick from Benzia and Lille took the lead as early as the tenth minute. Controlled and precise, the kick from the former Lyon player was indicative of his team’s start to the match. Even though the goal owed much to the lapses of OGC’s defense, surprised by the rebound of Benzia’s free-kick.
Behind, Nice struggled. For almost the entire match. Yet, Nice came close to a heist at the very end of the game. From a Séri free-kick, Baysse deflected with his head and saved his team.
And now?
Remarkably skillful and eager in the first half of the season, the Eagles showed none of that fire in Lille. Ben Arfa, like the others, performed without much flair and showed some physical limitations.
As an excuse, Nice could easily cite their 120 minutes in the Coupe de France on Monday. Even though after a two-week break, the freshness should have been quite different. On Friday, in any case, Nice will have no excuses. Against Angers, the 2016 version Ligue 1 of the Gym will cross paths with that of the league’s second place team.
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