Despite the immense disappointment felt this Wednesday by Nice supporters following the defeat against AS Monaco, fans can console themselves after witnessing the fine performance of a player who continues to cement his place in Christophe Galtier’s mind: Billal Brahimi.
This Wednesday at Stade Louis-II, besides the tense atmosphere, a special match was played for one of the 11 Nice players on the field. A 21-year-old player, Billal Brahimi was given his first start in the red and black jersey, and this during a crucial derby. Having arrived in Nice this winter, the former French youth international made a name for himself while playing for SCO d’Angers with his ability to take on opponents, break through defenses, and make deep runs. These rare qualities on the market led Nice to spend heavily (10 million) to secure the services of the young Frenchman. Playing as a winger, he has been used very little by Christophe Galtier since his arrival, but Brahimi has consistently shown determination and tenacity during his appearances.
The brilliance of Billal Brahimi against Monaco
Thus, during this 33rd championship day, the former Angers player finally experienced his first start, replacing an Amine Gouiri who seems to have been slowing down recently.
The versatile 21-year-old winger shone with his tenacity, making him the Nice player who created the most scoring opportunities. Very impactful in the game, Brahimi effectively found space, made runs, and created differences with his moves (50 touches). Engaging in a fierce battle against Aguilar for nearly an hour, the eaglet was generous in his defensive efforts but especially in his ability to push forward. He was the most fouled Nice player (5 fouls).
From substitute to regular starter?
During his 60 minutes on the field, the player won the unanimous approval of the supporters, who awarded him the prize for the best Nice player on the field with the majority of votes at the end of the match. Billal Brahimi thus sees his first starting role crowned with success and his efforts rewarded. A very promising recruit for OGCN, Brahimi had stated in an interview upon his arrival that playing for a top-level club like Nice was like a dream come true for him. He also expressed his wish to be helpful, to add value to the team, and he has now achieved that after this top-tier performance delivered by the Paris-born player.
We can now hope that Christophe Galtier will grant him more time and trust, allowing the young player to fully develop and perhaps become, in a few years, a key and indispensable element of OGC Nice.
