An almost perfect match, a hat-trick by Ben Arfa, and a fourth place in the standings; the supporters were over the moon yesterday at an Allianz Riviera that finally surpassed the 20,000 mark for a game worth seeing.
Everyone feared this tricky encounter against an opponent determined to erase the debacle of the first match where the Eagles had reigned supreme on Breton soil. But, right from the start of the match, Claude Puel’s men set the tone with relentless pressing on the Rennes defense, which buckled for the first time under a logical penalty half an hour into the game. That was all the Nice favorite needed to open the scoring and send the first shiver through a crowd fully behind him… “Hatem, we love you” is likely to be the hit of the spring!
Not content with leading the score, the Eagles continued their offensives, and it was at the best moment, just before the break, that the dazzling Nice striker scored his 15th goal of the season, perfectly set up by Koziello. The crowd could once again salute its hero, and the pissaladières and other pan bagnats must have tasted better during the break.
They resumed with the same intensity in the second half, repeating the first half with an unstoppable Hatem Ben Arfa who, once again, outpaced the absent-minded Breton defense to score his third goal and definitely knock out his opponents, who watched him play the entire match. The exit of the prodigy even triggered a standing ovation and a genuine ovation not seen since the exploits of a certain Cvitanich.
The end of the match continued to favor Nice, who issued a serious warning to their European counterparts. The upcoming Olympique Lyonnais-OGC Nice match will be a must-see in the race for European qualification.
This OGC Nice is making dreams come true, both on the field and behind the scenes. Now, they must negotiate the final five matches of this championship as best as possible to transform a try that could well be a masterstroke!
Photo credit and more information at www.ogcnice.com
