For its first friendly match of the Austrian mini-tour, Nice draws 2-2 against Besiktas with goals from Plea and A. Mendy. Collectively, the Nice team showed initiative, and some players made their mark for the weeks ahead.
The preparation continues less than fifteen days before the start of Ligue 1, and in a fine manner. After a victory against Lausanne (4-1), a defeat at Zulte-Waregem (2-1), and a win against Fréjus-Saint-Raphael (1-0), the red and black team finally faced a tough opponent. This time, it was the third-placed team from the last Turkish championship, Besiktas, who faced the eaglets who are adapting to intense physical preparation.
In the first half, we could try to describe the match, but it was almost a remake of Mayweather-Pacquiao. For a good twenty minutes, it was all about strong tackles, muscular challenges, and finally a scuffle and blows after a dangerous action by the Besiktas central defender on Plea. Once tempers cooled, football finally resumed. Nice, timid in the first half-hour with a very (too) low block, defended well. The left-footed duo Hult-LeMarchand were among the team’s highlights. The key came from the midfield with Mendy, Koziello, and Séri showing good form. It was the latter who, a few seconds before the end of the first half, sent Plea deep. The Nice forward faced the Turkish goalkeeper and scored with a left-footed shot (1-0, 45th). A little earlier, Valère Germain had hit the post after a more than risky exit by the black-and-white keeper.
Returning from the locker room, Claude Puel made three changes, then seven more in the 60th minute. Naturally, the first few minutes were scrappy. The switch to a 3-5-2 slightly disorganized the Nice block. The main issue was the numerous ball losses in their own half. Lacking defensive references, Nice was caught up in the score. Tosun outpaced the Nice defense and beat Pouplin with a cross shot (1-1, 61st). Claude Puel’s men’s response was immediate. Valentin Eysseric found Alexandre Mendy, who, with a classy control, outmaneuvered the Turkish defender and curled a shot with his right into the bottom corner (2-1, 64th). Mendy might be a great offensive find given his strong performance. Fifteen minutes before the end, Nice missed the chance to seal the win. Perfectly served by Mendy, Paulin Puel hurried and missed an unmissable goal with the goalkeeper beaten. At the end of the match, Gym was tied again. Besiktas hit the bar on a free kick, and then Uysal took advantage of the passivity of Nice’s rearguard to push the ball into the net (2-2, 82nd).
Nice settles for a draw that will boost the group’s confidence. The young generation seen in the second half showed quality, suggesting they could be relied on this season. The vast squad review likely allowed Claude Puel to assess almost his entire group (Genevois still injured, Pied and Vercauteren not selected). Next match against the Turkish champion, Galatasaray, tomorrow at 6:15 p.m. (live on L’Equipe 21).
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