Despite dominating the match from start to finish, Le Gym went down 1-0 to Toulouse in Week 24 of the Ligue 1 season, courtesy of a wonderful goal midway through the second half from Max-Alain Gradel.

Football can be kind and sometimes it can be cruel. That was the case for Nice on Saturday night at Allianz Riviera when a visiting Toulouse side made the most of the opportunity that came their way just after the hour mark. Lady Luck was smiling on the well-organised and disciplined visitors…

Yet, it was Le Gym that showed the most ambition, only to be let down by the final touch. The Côte d'Azur side monopolised possession (72 % at half-time, 68% at the final whistle) and looked to use the full width of the park against Les Violets and their compact 4-3-3 formation.

Starting on the left-wing of the home side's 4-3-3, J.V. Makengo was quickly into the heart of the action when he towered over Michelin to head towards goal, only to see Lafont make a great save in the TFC goal (5’).

In the final moments of the first half, the Toulouse right-back brought down J.V. in the box, but, surprisingly to most observers, the referee awarded a corner and not a penalty! Makengo wasn't rewarded for his enterprising play and this non-penalty call symbolised what was a tough night for Le Gym.

Srarfi didn't get his reward either! In great form in recent weeks, the mercurial Tunisia international was at it again at Allianz Riviera where he assumed his defensive responsibilities and, in the 22nd minute, went on a stunning run that could so easily have brought the opening goal. Cutting in from the right, the former Club Africain star played a one-two with Plea, and burst into the box before letting fly with a sumptuous left-foot effort… that slammed off the outside of the post! It was the best chance of the opening 45 minutes.

Defensively, Le Gym also had a couple of 'heart in mouth' moments of their own, especially seconds after the kick-off when Gradel took advantage of a hesitation at the back to blaze just over (1’). It was a similar story when he volleyed over from Jean's cross (7’). And again when he fired high from distance (8’).

Just after the break, Malang Sarr took matters into his own hands. Comfortable at the back throughout the match, the young defender strode forward, ball at feet, beat Sangaré before firing just across the face of goal from the edge of the area (55'). 

As the minutes ticked by, Nice continued to attack. If anything, the pressure on the TFC goal intensified as the visitors tried to weather the storm. But they didn't not break, despite the absence of the regular defensive pairing of Diop and Jullien – and they good still count on the talent of Gradel up front to worry the hosts. 

It was a tactic that paid dividends when the Côte d'Ivoire star curled home a brilliant goal from the corner of the penalty box, into the far top corner of Benitez's goal (0-1 68').

Les Niçois upped the ante again in search of an equaliser. Lucien Favre brought on Sacko and Ganago for Makengo and Mendy, and switched to a 4-4-2 formation. But there was just no way through and, this time,  Le Gym couldn't count on the sublime talents of the suspended Super Mario to save the day. 

Sarr and Tameze got in each other's way from a Seri cross (83'), Ganago fired agonisingly wide (87') and that was that...

It was a second consecutive loss for Nice who must get back to winning ways next week against Dijon in Ligue 1, before looking ahead to the historic visit of Lokomotiv Moscow in the Europa League. 

C.D.

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