With a rejuvenated team, OGC Nice (and especially its young players) went to the Netherlands and lost (1-0) at the end of a match far from indigestible.
The fresh change was announced. The effect, however, would be closely observed. Against Vitesse, with qualification in the bag, Nice put in a solid performance in the cold of a Dutch winter. They conceded 5 minutes before the end of regulation time. This changes absolutely nothing regarding their continental future but leaves a slight bitterness when it comes to counting up.
Lucien Favre took advantage of this match without stakes to rotate the squad. The Swiss coach opted for a rejuvenated 4-3-3, notably with the return of Yoan Cardinale in goal, who had lost his starting status since mid-October in favor of Walter Benitez. In defense, Dante was paired with Burner, Sarr, and Coly, while the midfield revolved around the returning Cyprien. Pléa, for his part, was accompanied by Srarfi and Lusamba in attack.
With so many changes, eight to be precise compared to the last Ligue 1 match, the Nice players struggled to find each other, develop play, and set the pace. It was the locals who created the most clear-cut chances. Each time (6th, 45th+1, 46th, and 57th), Cardinale was vigilant on his line. Only Srarfi (54th) and Plea (59th and 63rd) really tested Pasveer. It should be noted that Coly, recruited this summer, could have been awarded a penalty in the 15th minute. However, the referee decided not to whistle for a foul on the left-back, even though he was taken down by Lelieveld.
Two great horizontal saves by Cardinale within 10 minutes after the break allowed the Gym not to start the second half trailing. Two shots, one from a repositioned Srarfi and another from a wide Plea, nearly put them in the lead at the same time.
This same Plea, perfectly served by Koziello, was met by a focused Pasveer (62′), before being replaced by the new youngster of the group: Lamine Diaby-Fadiga (16 years old), a pure product of the academy.
As the minutes passed, the intensity gradually declined. The Aiglons didn’t attack much anymore and remained focused on defensive tasks.
Vitesse’s opening goal concluded the debates just when a draw seemed most likely. On a shot by Rashica deflected by Sarr, a surprised Cardinale could only parry it into the path of Castaignos, who pushed it into the net (1-0, 85′).
An unfortunate but not inevitable goal. The Gym still finishes their group with a successful European campaign. They will carefully watch the draw for the round of 32, this Monday. Knowing the Gym’s luck with draws, we’ll surely have a big match on February 15 at the Allianz Riviera…
THE STAT: 16
Lamine Diaby-Fadiga, who was born on January 19, 2001, in Grasse, is the first player born in the new millennium to wear the Gym’s colors.
At just 16 years, 10 months, and 19 days old, he is also the youngest player in the club’s history to play in a European cup match.
WORDS, WORDS…
Lucien Favre: “We could easily have drawn, even won this match. There is at least one penalty for us, clear and clean, maybe even a second one, it seems to me. Unfortunately, they were not given. We put in a very decent performance. There were a lot of young players. We also had opportunities, but we didn’t take them. I don’t want to speak about individuals specifically. But there were some quite nice surprises, yes. Overall, it was quite positive. We knew some players, others had played very little until now. There are things missing, at times it was very good, we had good combinations, we distributed the play well in the midfield. But we lacked a bit of decisiveness in the final 30 meters: shots, one-twos, more runs in the box.”
