In a unique context, OGC Nice was eager to succeed in their comeback. Serious and focused, the Aiglons clinched their first victory of the season (1-0), thanks to a goal by the very young Malang Sarr.
“Nissa forever standing tall.” The banner, placed at the foot of the Populaire Sud stand, encapsulated the spirit reigning in the Aiglons’ den. Before the match, the people of Nice paid a huge tribute to the 85 victims of the Nice attack, a month after it happened. After the recital of all these angels’ names (the most emotional moment of the tribute), the 22 players entered the field in a cathedral-like silence.
After this moment of reflection, the Allianz Riviera regained its fervor, and the atmosphere never fell flat. On the pitch, the Aiglons started the match with the firm intention of breaking through the Rennes block. They resisted, and as early as the 11th minute, Cardinale intervened on a long shot. Offensively, Dalbert had a very good start to the match, bustling and twirling down the left side. The first half-hour was marked by numerous inaccuracies and ball losses, from both the Nice and Rennes sides. But on the Nice side, Rémi Walter was vigilant and covered a lot of ground. A true number 6 role.
Injured, Clément Chantôme was replaced by Kamil Grosicki in the 24th minute. Grosicki immediately became lively and caused a few scares for Nice supporters. However, on the other side, a missed shot by Pléa from a set piece (32nd minute), a beautiful combination between Souquet, Koziello, and Pléa (35th minute), or two successive chances by Dalbert (41st and 44th minutes), kept Nice afloat. But Lucien Favre’s 4-3-3 (or 4-1-4-1) couldn’t find a breakthrough against Christian Gourcuff’s 4-4-2. At halftime, the score logically stood at 0-0.
To find the solution, Nice gives “Malang” to the cat
In the second half, Rennes returned with more intentions, and the first opportunities were more dangerous. Cardinale had to intervene again in the 51st minute, before being perfectly assisted by Paul Baysse, who recovered well on Giovanni Sio after a turnover by Rémi Walter 20 meters out (54th minute). Just before the hour mark, Anastasios Donis made his debut at Allianz Riviera under the Gym’s colors, replacing Alassane Pléa, worn out after receiving a knock.
Seconds later, Mika Seri took an outswinging free kick that he placed on the head of Malang Sarr, alone at the far post. With a fierce header, the very young 17-year-old defender, from the Moulins district, beat Benoît Costil and could let his joy explode (59th minute). The player, who has been with the Gym since the age of five, is the twenty-third academy player to be promoted to the professional team since the 2012-2013 season.
Right after this liberating goal, it was Arnaud Souquet, another “newcomer” (who had a decent performance), who missed doubling the lead, but his shot ended in Costil’s side netting. In an arena fired up by the opening goal, Nice supporters found their voices offering a fantastic atmosphere to their players. The players then dropped back, and Vincent Marcel was replaced by Wylan Cyprien in the 61st minute.
Rennes pushed forward and created two big chances (70th, 74th minutes), but it was Yoann Gourcuff who thought he had equalized in the 80th minute, only to see his goal disallowed for an offside… Arguably. In fact, a replay showed that the ball was unintentionally passed to him by Seri.
The final ten minutes were marked by Rennes’ attacks on the Nice goal. Fortunately, Cardinale and his Baysse-Sarr central defense partnership held firm, preventing Nice from collapsing. A final move featuring Lusamba, Donis, and Cyprien, then the introduction of Mathieu Bodmer in the 88th minute (replacing Arnaud Lusamba) to strengthen the midfield. A rewarding choice since, despite a missed clearance by Cardinale in the 90th minute and a Diakhaby header hitting the bar in added time, Nice held on.
Although the match wasn’t particularly thrilling, due to the two teams’ fairly blocked play by the opposing defenses, Nice managed to find the breakthrough on a set piece. Nice nonetheless showed a more encouraging game than Rennes, confirming the progress seen during the last friendly against Sporting Portugal (0-0). Progress that will have to be demonstrated again the following week, with a match in Angers (Saturday, August 20 at 8 PM).
Despite the late game onslaughts, Nice won their first match of the season and placed fifth. An anecdotal ranking at the beginning of the season, but one that promises better days. In any case, the Gym has paid the most beautiful tribute to its 85 angels taken too soon by dedicating this victory to them.
The Stat: Day of Firsts
Malang Sarr scored his first Ligue 1 goal in his first start. Thus scoring Nice’s first goal of the season, allowing them to secure their first victory… And all on their first (and only) shot on target of the match.
Malang Sarr’s Reaction: “It’s a very, very good evening, everything went well. I think we played a good match against a strong Rennes team. We expected a tough match, and it was. On the goal, I expected Micka Seri to put it towards the far post. I told myself I had to go all out to score. It’s crazy, it’s full of emotion, it’s a very beautiful first, I’m quite proud. At the moment, I told myself we had to hold on, bring the victory, it’s a great tribute to the victims. It was important to do something, to dedicate this goal to them as a way to pay tribute. It was hard because I’m from here, I knew people among the victims. I’m proud to honor them by scoring.”
Lucien Favre’s Reaction: “It was very hard, against a very good Rennes team. These three points are already three points gained. There is a good margin for progress among the players. And winning today, one month after the attacks, is a bonus.”
