Making the most of the international break, the Niçois played a training match against Fréjus - Saint-Raphël on Friday. A look back at the key moments from the encounter between two neighbours, which was won by the visitors (1-2).

A young defence

Set-up in a 3-5-2, the Aiglons started with a central trio that had never played together before, with Rémi Mestrallet, Ibrahim Cissé and Yrlès Téoro-Kurzawa. The two players who have risen through the ranks of the club played on either side of the 19 year-old Ivorian, who arrived this summer as part of the partnership with RC Abidjan. The right and left sides of the defence were occupied by Patrick Burner and Olivier Boscagli.

The Red and Blacks’ starting 11

Rémi Mestrallet

Ibrahim Cissé

Pierre Lees-Melou makes his return  

With the trip to Nîmes six days earlier coming just too soon (0-1 victory), the former Dijon midfielder pulled on his match shirt for the first time since 5 October (1-1 at Toulouse). With the captain’s armband on his arm, PLM played the full match alongside his fellow midfielders, Rémi Walter and Jean-Victor Makengo.

Pierre Lees-Melou in action.

Mario on the scoresheet 

Playing alongside Ihsan Sacko in attack, Mario Balotelli (at the heart of the two best chances for the Niçois) found the back of the net with a penalty, with a quarter of an hour to go. A goal that allowed the Aiglons to equalise, 7 minutes after Sébastien Da Silva had opened the scoring. 

The score only stayed at 1-1, for a minute, with Mohamed Ouchmid tapping the ball into Yoan Cardinale’s goal just after the equaliser.

A hello from the Pichouns

Academy graduates of OGC Nice, Evander Moreira and Fabien Dao Castellana returned home. The defender and midfielder - captain of the victorious Coupe Gambardella side in 2012 - didn’t take part in the match, as they were both rested ahead of the 7th round of the Coupe de France (against SC Toulon, on Sunday at 2pm).

Evander Moreira and Fabien Dao Castellana pose for a photo in front of the Aiglons’ new home.

On a completely different note, another winner of the Gambard' was at the training ground. It was Neal Maupay, who is currently shining with Brentford this season (11 goals and 6 assists in 14 Championship matches). The striker who turned pro at 16 years of age (44 games in L1 with the Gym, 6 goals), made the most of the international break to come and say hello to his former teammates and the Red and Black staff.

Neal Maupay.

F.H.

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