The Aiglons secured a very impressive victory this afternoon against Guingamp, thanks to one man: Youcef Atal, who scored a hat-trick.
For the first time this season, the Gym scored three goals in a match. This is not a drill! It has been difficult to score goals this season, struggling to find the right balance between a solid defense and a powerful attack, Nice relied on a single player, who is actually a fullback by training.
In the ninth minute, on a cross from Adrien Tamèze, Youcef Atal volleys the ball and deceives the Guingamp keeper (1-0, 9th minute). Moved to the wing, the Algerian international has already scored three goals this season and now adds a fourth.
Starting ideally, the Aiglons dominated the first half and narrowly missed doubling their lead just before the break when Malang Sarr’s free kick hit the post of Marc-Aurèle Caillard.
THE “F-ATAL” WEAPON
In the second half, Guingamp returned with more intentions. Merghem (51st minute) and Ngbakoto (56th minute) tried to equalize. Without success.
Afterwards, Youcef Atal decided to kill the game. He recovered the ball in midfield, bypassed a defender with a favorable bounce, then accelerated with the goal straight ahead. Unchallenged, he approached the goal and scored by sliding in, anticipating Caillard’s outing (2-0, 68th minute).
The match seemed wrapped up, but not for Atal. Set off by Saint-Maximin, Sacko charged down the right side and delivered a strong cross to the far post, where he found… Atal, who slid in to score a hat-trick (3-0, 73rd minute). Incredible.
The Algerian international was substituted a few minutes later, received a standing ovation from the Nice crowd, won over by their new star. He watched from the bench as his teammates managed the end of the match without putting themselves in danger and secured a morale-boosting and convincing victory.
THE STAT: 1985
Youcef Atal is the first Algerian player to score a hat-trick in Ligue 1 since Chérif Oudjani on October 12, 1985, with Laval against Toulouse.
The last Nice player to score a hat-trick was Alassane Pléa, at Metz in October 2016 (he later scored four goals at Guingamp, a year later). As for the last Nice hat-trick at the Allianz Riviera, it dates back to Hatem Ben Arfa, who scored a hat-trick in 2016 against… Rennes, with whom he has just won the Coupe de France.
PATRICK VIEIRA’S REACTION
“I’m really very happy this afternoon, we played a complete game. In defense, offense, and the level of play produced, we were very good. We will set ourselves objectives to finish as high as possible in the standings. Anyway, we have nothing to lose. We know that Europe will be very complicated, but it’s part of our job to believe in it and give it our all.”
MALANG SARR’S REACTION
“After the defeat against Caen, I said that we had to take this match as a revenge. We had to correct all the areas of the game where we have struggled. I’m happy with the work done. We’re not going to give up and continue to fiercely believe in Europe. Matches like this one will have to be a springboard for us for the end of the season. We will have to be even stronger and rack up victories until the end.”
YOUCEF ATAL’S REACTION
“It’s the first time I’ve scored a hat-trick. I’m very happy, I’ve never felt such feelings in my life. Every time you score, you want to score a second, then a third… The victory is important, especially since last week we were held to a draw. There aren’t many matches left; we’re going to give it our all, and I hope we finish well. As for the winger position? I prefer right-back, but if the coach wants me to play as a winger, I’m up for it.”
