Le Ray bows out with a draw between OGC Nice and Montpellier (2-2).

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Rich in emotions, this final match at the Ray lived up to all its promises. On the sports front, OGC Nice drew 2-2 against Montpellier, but the public showed up to honor their Ray stadium one last time before settling into the new jewel of the Allianz Riviera.

More than 8,000 supporters made the short trip from Place Massรฉna to the Ray stadium. Like a procession, flares and chants in honor of the Gym were part of the crowd’s ingredients. Women, children, the elderly, all came to show their affection for this historical stadium.

Everyone shared their anecdotes, everyone brought their memories to the surface, whether recent or old. As soon as the two teams entered the field, the atmosphere changed, the ambiance reached its peak, and the players felt it. More enterprising at the start of the match, the Nice team opened the scoring through Kolodziejczak with a header from a corner in the 18th minute. A logical opening of the score, as Claude Puel’s men dominated the beginning of the game.

Montpellier was in agony but took advantage of a gross error by young defender Amavi, guilty of a failed or perhaps too well-executed control against Camara. The latter recovered the ball and crucified Ospina with a placed shot in the 34th minute. But the eaglets showed they had resources. Not very dangerous in play after Montpellier’s equalizer, Nice relied on the talent of Valentin Eysseric. Unremarkable in the previous match against Limassol, the young midfielder had things to atone for. In a well-executed move, he dribbled past El Kaoutari before following up with a left-footed shot close to Pionner’s post.

At that moment, it was the 42nd minute, the Ray was in a frenzy, and Nice appeared to have the upper hand in this historic match. But in the second half, Montpellier returned with different intentions, and as Cabella headed for the goal, he was halted by a Nice defender. From the free kick, Saka Tiรฉnรฉ brought the two teams level again with a superb curled shot. With this goal, Nice took a hit and began to retreat. Montpellier held onto the ball a bit more, and the scenario seemed to lean towards a third goal for Jean Fernandez’s men.

OGC Nice allowed themselves to be lulled by the false rhythm imposed by Montpellier and could no longer create clear chances. With 10 minutes to go, the crowd began to believe again after Bakar, from Montpellier’s side, was sent off for a late tackle. But the eaglets couldn’t make a difference due to a lack of freshness after Thursday’s match and a lack of offensive realism. The match ultimately ended in a quite logical draw between two teams still finding their footing at the start of the championship.

The Ray may have experienced better moments but can be satisfied to see its former glories set foot on the pitch at the end of the match. The club had invited back the main players and presidents of the Gym from all eras for this final tribute. A video recounting the defining moments of the Ray was also shown to the public. A way to remind the younger generations what the red and black entity represents in Nice’s history. For the moment, a new start is scheduled for September 22 at the new grand stadium. Let’s wish the eaglets that it symbolizes the official launch of the sports season.

The last at the Ray. For its final match at this mythical stadium, Nice was held by Montpellier 2-2 on September 1, 2013.

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