​

Dominating for the whole 90 minutes, the Aiglons didn’t manage to put the game to bed until the last ten minutes of the game.

Even though the defeat at the hands of PSG two weeks ago ended the Aiglons good run, the quality of the performance from the men in Red and Black against the future champions of France didn’t leave any reason to doubt the form of Lucien Favre’s side.

The Swiss coach changed just one element in his starting eleven for the match in the Aube, with Marlon starting in the middle of the defence, in place of Malang Sarr. The Niçois secured their 13th win in Ligue 1 and it never really looked in doubt, as they were superior across the pitch.

Le Gym score…then the harvest

But, even though Alassane Plea had opened the scoring in the 16th minute with an excellent strike, the Red and Blacks only managed to put the game to bed in the 83rd minute, thanks to the very same Plea. The Nice number 14, who scored four at Guingamp at the start of March, could even have got a hat trick if the referee hadn’t blown his whistle to end of the game when he was through on goal!

Between the Nice forward’s two goals (his 11th and 12th in Ligue 1 this season), the Azuréens had multiple chances to double their lead. At times they found an impressive Zelazny (Plea 15', 48' or 54', Lees-Melou 70'), at others, they lacked accuracy (Saint-Maximin, 60') or even missed unmissable chances like the chance Seri had when faced with an open goal after an excellent pass by the ever-present Plea (23'). Add to that the two disallowed goals, the first for Plea, who was only centimetres offside (28') as Balotelli superbly back heeled the ball into his path, and a second for Balotelli who wasn’t even in an offside position (31').

On a bad day, these are alarming signs and are the prelude to many regrets, but ESTAC were too far off of Le Gym’s level to get back into the game, despite a slightly better second half for the home side, who only troubled Benitez with a strike from Pelé on the hour mark.

This win allows the Aiglons to catch up with FC Nantes, who were heavily beaten at home by St Etienne (0-3) and Stade Rennais, who will play their game in hand on Wednesday against Monaco. The Bretons will then travel to the Allianz Riviera for a vitally important clash in the race for Europa League qualification.

A.D.

---