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After a slim victory at Cholet in the Coupe de France (0-1), it’s back to Ligue 1 and the Allianz Riviera for the Gym. The Gym will face RC Lens (6th) for this 19th day of Ligue 1, the last one before Christmas and the winter break.
First chance of the match by Kalimuendo for Lens, after good work by Da Costa, the young international heads the ball, but it’s easily into the hands of Benitez.
11th minute, the first significant offensive phase for the Gym with Kluivert intercepting a poor pass, the young Dutchman sprints 30 meters before feinting and crossing for Dolberg, who cannot reach the ball.
The two teams have been assessing each other for 20 minutes, and neither seems willing to expose themselves.
First shot from the Aiglons thanks to Atal (21st). Malvin Bard on the left flank delivers a beautiful cross for his Algerian teammate, but unfortunately, his shot is rushed and not on target.
Oh, the move by Dolberg on Gouiri’s cross, the Dane attempts a move reminiscent of Zlatan, but it goes to the right of the goal (23rd).
The Gym is starting to show danger; two minutes later after Dolberg’s attempt, Boudaoui tries from 30m, but again, it’s not on target.
Huge chance for Kalimuendo on the 30th minute from a corner. The striker, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, is unmarked by Dolberg and can make a powerful header, miraculously cleared by Benitez.
Goal by Kalimuendo moments later! Poor clearance by Malvin Bard fails to remove the danger, Wooh seizes the ball and passes to Kalimuendo, who fires a powerful shot. Benitez gets a foot on it, but the ball still goes in. 0-1 to RC Lens in the 31st minute.
Nice attempts to increase the pace to get back into the match, mainly through crosses. But now that they have opened the scoring, Lens is playing more on the counter than ever. It almost pays off, Da Costa, launched deep into the area, gets past Todibo with a move. The Portuguese then follows up with a low shot into the corner, but fortunately, Benitez covers his post well (40th).
What an opportunity for the Gym in the dying moments of this first half. Gouiri slices through the defense with a beautiful cross to the far post for Atal. The Algerian shoots, Leca makes a great save (41st).
The first attempt comes 4 minutes into the second half, it’s from Lens, with Fofana at the origin. The Ivorian midfielder tries his luck from a distance, but it goes way off the Azul’s goal.
The start of the second half is calm, with both teams holding their positions.
Finally, a reaction from the Gym just after the hour mark. Atal speeds past Frankowski and crosses for Dolberg. The latter attempts a backheel but only grazes it!
Goal for Mario Lemina! It’s Lemina’s first for Nice! A scramble in the Lens area after a cross from Atal, Gouiri heads the ball, and Lemina at the penalty spot fires a superb effort into Leca’s side netting! The Gabonese, however, is forced to exit after his goal due to an injury from his strike. (1-1).
With this goal, the Aiglons regain confidence and play more freely in attack.
Oh, Todibo so close to making it 2-1 for Nice! From a corner, the former Barça player jumps higher than anyone and is very close to meeting the ball (69th).
The defender nearly gives away a penalty moments later by bringing down Kalimuendo, but the referee waves it off (70th).
Goal by Kluivert! 2-1 for Nice thanks to a beautiful play led by these Dutchmen. Rosario, in the center of the field, drives the ball over 30 meters and passes to his compatriot. Kluivert doesn’t hesitate, drives into the area, and fires into the left side netting (79th).
Kalimuendo tries to level at 2-2, launched into the box, the forward attempts to place his shot into Benitez’s far corner, but it’s off-target.
Oh, the crossbar for Kluivert with 3 minutes to go! Delort shakes off his defender, the Algerian passes to Gouiri, who feeds Kluivert. The son of the Dutch prodigy opens his foot, it hits the bar! What a stunning goal it would have been!
Last action of this match, it’s a corner for Lens, the goalkeeper of the Racing club comes up, but no one reaches the ball. End of the match: 2-1 victory for OGC Nice!
Victory for the Gym 2-1 against RC Lens! After trailing in the first half following a goal by Kalimuendo at the half-hour mark, Nice came back in the second half. Even though they had fewer opportunities in the second act (4 shots in the 1st half against 3 in the second), the Aiglons managed to level the score by being effective in an area that had cost them recent home defeats: finishing. Of their 3 attempts in the last 45 minutes, the Azurites all hit the target.
Thanks to a beautiful goal by Lemina and a fiery Justin Kluivert, OGC Nice finds victory at the Allianz Riviera (hadn’t won since late October) and takes second place in the standings. A beautiful Christmas gift for all Nice residents!
