Thanks to three first-half goals and a superb overall performance, Le Gym finished the 2022/23 season on a fine win over Lyon (3-1).

OGC Nice wrapped up the season in the best possible way, starting with Jerome Boateng’s own-goal after just five minutes that gave Didier Digard’s squad – that had no fewer than nine players missing – the ideal start.

In a 3-4-3 with Dante surrounded by Mendy to his right and Rosario to his left, and Beka Beka and Boudaoui paired in midfield, Nice raced out of the blocks, taking control in the opening 15 minutes. They then held out as Cherki (19’), Barcola (22’, 27’) and Caqueret (36’) forced saves from Kasper Schmeichel, and Lacazette twice failed to hit the target from inside the penalty area (23’, 38’) before the Rouge-et-Noir struck twice in five minutes. Thanks to a sublime backheel from Terem Moffi, Sofiane Diop was able to shoot for goal, and though Lopes parried, Gaëtan Laborde was there to head home the rebound (2-0, 28’) and claim his 18th goal of the season (16th with Le Gym).

Moffi then netted the third from Hicham Boudaoui’s cross (3-0, 33’) to leave hosts cruising.

Jeffinho – teed up nicely by Cherki – pulled one back (3-1, 41’), but after the break, Le Gym gave the visitors no joy, and might have added more goals themselves. Alexis Beka Beka was denied by Lopes (47’), Moffi missed the target (61’) after being played in by Diop, who found himself at the heart of a 4-3-3 following the interval when Antoine Mendy had been replaced by Badredine Bouanani.

In the closing stages, coach Digard brought on Théo Trinker (21) and Andréa Dacourt (17) for their first taste of L1 action as Le Gym end the 2022/23 campaign in ninth place.

The first team squad will report back for pre-season training on 3 July.