OGC Nice won their second pre-season friendly of the summer against Montpellier thanks to a goal from Alexis Beka Beka in the dying stages of the encounter (1-0).

In their second friendly of the summer, OGC Nice beat Montpellier 1-0 in Olot, Spain. This pre-season match, divided into three 30-minute periods, was the culmination of their training camp in Catalonia and provided an opportunity for a well-organised and improving Gym side to find their bearings.

Bulka, Lotomba, Dante (c.), Ndayishimiye, Bard, Rosario, Boudaoui, Thuram, Laborde, Moffi and Diop started the game. From the start of the first period, Les Aiglons showed their desire to push forward, and Moffi saw his shot blocked (4'). Les Rouge et Noir set about implementing Francesco Farioli's principles by playing the ball out cleanly. During the first 30 minutes, Le Gym created a few dangerous chances.

With his back to goal, Gaëtan Laborde turned and struck with his left foot from the edge of the box, but the ball flew just wide of the goal (25’). Before the end of the first period, a free-kick from Diop (who scored in the first friendly against Lausanne) only just missed the target (28’).

Montpellier also showed their quality in the first period, with a lively Khazri driving them on. Dante blocked a shot from the Tunisian (6’) before the former Saint-Etienne man connected first time with a low cross from Al Tamari, but he saw the ball just fly over Bulka's bar (20’). The two sides were on level terms after the first 30 minutes.

WELL ORGANISED AIGLONS

There was one change for the side from the Côte d'Azur, with Bard coming off and Atal coming on for the restart. Les Aiglons began the second half in the same calm fashion as the first. Moffi took advantage of a poor Montpellier pass to win the ball back and cross into the box, where Thuram controlled the ball but was denied by the opposition defence (34'). Francesco Farioli's team were well organised and kept the ball moving in search of a solution. Found by Diop, Thuram unleashed a powerful effort from outside the box but it sailed over (45').

The France international then made way for Claude-Maurice, while Todibo replaced Rosario. OGC Nice were well set-up and looked dangerous in attack. A powerful shot from Alexis Claude-Maurice (49'), a shot from Diop (52'), a powerful cross from the number 10 (56') and a header from Dante (57') gave the Héraultais cause for concern but did not allow the Gym to take the lead. Bulka, who had been fairly quiet up to that point, got down well to turn Savanier's dangerous shot away for a corner (54').

BEKA BEKA CAPS OFF A GOOD PERFROMANCE FROM LE GYM

For the final third of the match, Schmeichel, Bouanani, Guessand and Beka Beka all came on, with Bulka, Boudaoui, Laborde and Moffi making way. Les Aiglons were organised and left very little space for Montpellier. Le Gym's professional performance was capped off by a goal. Alexis Beka Beka got on the end of substitute Amraoui's cross at the near post and opened the scoring for Nice (1-0, 82’).

Two minutes later, Guessand connected with Louchet's cross into the box but couldn't find the target (84’). The score stayed as it was, allowing Le Gym to pick up a first victory of the summer.

WHAT'S TO COME IN PRE-SEASON

Next up, OGC Nice will take on Braga (29/07, 8pm), Villarreal (05/08, 1:30pm) then Fiorentina (06/08, 2pm) before the first round of matches of L1 on the weekend of 13/08 at the Allianz Riviera against Lille (date and time to be confirmed).