After dominating in the first period, then being shaken and reduced down to 10 in the second, Le Gym suffered a painful defeat in the first leg of the Europa Legaue Round of 32 (2-3). They will need a masterstroke in Moscow, in a week’s time if they want to continue their European adventure.

45 minutes of happiness and a terrible headache: it isn’t possible to sum up this first leg more objectively than that. Superior in every department in the first half, the Niçois paid the price of not having put the game to bed and then conceding just before the break, before their opponent hit them square in the face.

Thanks to a brace from an in-form Mario, things seemed to be going swimmingly. And the home side really hurt the visitors during the first fifteen minutes of the encounter…They dragged them about, walked all over them, and smashed them up. But like a boxer, the Russians were able to remain standing, before winning the fight on points.

Set-up in a 4-3-3 with Marlon on the right, Cyprien in front of the defence and Saint-Maximin on the wing, Nice were much better than their opponent who seemed to lack rhythm. Winning all of the duals, they brought the ball down and looked a constant danger. On his return to the side, Saint-Maximin made Vitali Denisov suffer, and his coach had to take him off at the break…

With space in front of him, the number 7 was a delight to watch and the Allianz delighted in it. Very early on, he made the most of a long ball from Dante, as the Russian full-back hesitated, the youngster won his first battle of the evening, took his time and then perfectly set up a withdrawn Balotelli. The Italian titan, loyal to himself, couldn’t let the opportunity pass him by and found the back of the net with his first chance (1-0, 3’).

With a lead behind them, the home side pushed on to try to bring down the current Russian league leaders.

The Italian centre forward - again - cut in from the left but could only find the gloves of Guilherme (12’); Dante missed the target with a header (19’); Saint-Max’ continued his excellent work causing countless problems for Denisov and, eventually, the Aiglons’ lead was doubled after Mika Seri struck. In the opponent’s box, the Ivorian metronome tricked the defence and tried his luck with his left: Pejcinovic blocked with his hand, and the Signore got his brace, without the hint of a stutter, from the resulting penalty (2-0, 28’).

Seeing their opponent on the ropes, the men from the Côte tried to drive the knife home. Attacking from every angle, playing perfectly in the middle and quickly finding the width. Plea found the Russian keeper on two occasions (31’, 39’) and lifted an inch-perfect ball from Saint-Maximin just too high (35’). All of this was before they were unfortunately pegged back by the Railwaymen (2-1, 45’), as Sarr overdid it and conceded a penalty. Fernandes converted it (2-1, 45'), just after having seen a volley from Aleksandr Miranchuk strike Benitez’s bar.

Coly sent off

The Railwaymen came back out with different intentions. Yury Syomin made two important changes: Rybus replaced V. Denisov on the left and Farfan took the place of Kolomeytsev - a defensive midfielder - to bring life and energy. Effective changes, given that the debates evened out and moved further and further in the favour of the side from the East. Mario missed the target with a header after another excellent move from the former Bastia winger (54'), Benitez punched away a strike from Rybus (60'), Super Mario - set-up by St-Max'- saw his effort turned away by an incredible stop from Guilherme (66'), and then, everything became more difficult. In the aftermath, Ari was through on goal, and was slightly knocked off balance by Coly who sacrificed himself for his colours. The Senegalese full-back picked up a straight red (67') and, double punishment, Manuel Fernandes, the boss of his side, perfectly placed the resulting free-kick out of the reach of Benitez (2-2, 69'). 

From then on, Le Gym suffered. Suffered. Benitez (72') and Dante (74') delayed the inevitable, but the team finally cracked. From a move where, unforutunately, a refereeing decision went, once again, against them. Anton Miranchuk flicked the ball on with his elbow, in the box, found Fernandes who buried for his hat-trick (2-3, 77').

Lucien Favre’s side didn’t concede again, which, despite everything keeps a glimmer of hope.

And if football really is that beautiful, it’s because sometimes, just sometimes, the impossible becomes possible. For that, a masterstroke will be needed....

C.D.

 

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