Could this Nice-PSG match be the pivotal game that Claude Puel and his protégés were waiting for? After the fine series slightly marred by elimination in the Coupe de la Ligue in Montpellier, it’s Paris Saint Germain and their stars who come to fall in a Ray in total fusion with its eaglets. We begin to dream…
Everything was set for the event to be delightful and it was. A sold-out Ray, an electrifying atmosphere while still remaining friendly, and Nice players already well in the game from the warm-up. The match could start after the traditional collective “Nissa la bella.” In the first half, the eaglets immediately took action with attempts from Kolodziejczak (11th), Digard (19th), and Pied (25th), but Douchez kept his goal intact at the half-hour mark, while Ibrahimovic and Menez also had no luck in their respective attempts to score.
The team often tried (too often?) to find Cvitanich on the Nice side, but it was not necessarily easy for the Argentine who faced a well-organized and solid defense in midfield. Mr. Buquet could thus send both teams to the locker rooms with a scoreless draw, which was quite logical based on the first 45 minutes.
The second half started with an early Parisian threat named Zlatan, but Pejcinovic was on guard and canceled the Swede’s opportunity. A tit-for-tat response from Eysseric, who tried from 20 meters out, but this time it was Thiago Silva who stopped the Nice attempt. The two teams remained level as the clock reached the hour mark, with a new opportunity for Zlatan whose shot went just wide of Ospina’s goal, who then had to work twice seconds later on a Menez attempt. Pastore and Van Der Wiel entered the game for Paris, and Abriel replaced Pied for Nice. With just a quarter of an hour left to make a difference, it was the Nice players who struck first, with the lively Cvitanich eliminating an opponent in the Parisian area and Bauthéac, ideally positioned, coming to finish off Douchez, sending Ray into a frenzy.
The joy was short-lived, following a powerful free kick from Zlatan Ibrahimovic that left no chance for the wall or even Ospina, equalizing with eight minutes left in the game. However, it was meant for the celebration to be complete this first month of December, and the gift eventually came from Eysseric, who, beautifully assisted by Kolodziejczak, sent a no less sublime volley into the back of the Parisian net. The Ray could once again erupt in joy, and the spectators could now watch the game with one eye on the timer showing just 4 minutes left to play. Time enough for Ibrahimovic to get a yellow and for Matuidi to be sent off before Mr. Buquet blew the final whistle to seal the eaglets’ victory.
The first away defeat for the Parisians and the eighth undefeated game at Ray for Nice, who could savor these three points propelling them to the 8th spot in the standings before heading to Troyes next Saturday and hosting Rennes at Ray on Tuesday, December 11 at 7 PM, and Evian on Saturday, December 15 at 8 PM. Three good opportunities to gather points!
Photo credit: www.ogcnice.com
