Facing a strong FC Nantes side, Les Aiglons suffered their first defeat of the season on Saturday evening at the Beaujoire (1-0) but will remain second in Ligue 1 at the end of Matchday 14.

All good things must come to an end. After 13 matches undefeated this season in the league (16 including the previous season), Francesco Farioli's men were defeated this Saturday evening at Nantes, despite having numerous opportunities.

Boosted by the returns of Youssouf Ndayishimiye and JC Todibo, the Italian coach chose to start Evann Guessand through the middle of the attack and shift Terem Moffi to the right wing. A choice that could have paid off just before half-time, when the Super Eagle perfectly set up his teammate in the box, allowing the latter to strike from close range. Alert, Alban Lafont first cleared the ball before intervening once again after Moffi's header from a corner kick (42').

END OF BULKA'S CLEAN SHEET STREAK

The Canaries' goalkeeper had already warmed up his gloves following a header from Dante. From the ensuing corner, he made a good save to deny Khephren Thuram's volley (10').

Having made an inspired start to the match, the Red and Blacks saw their momentum thwarted by Nantes' opening goal (25'). A real threat on the left side, Moses Simon got the better of Todibo before crossing to Pablo Chirivella in the box. With a subtle back-heel, the FCN captain laid it off to Moussa Sissoko, whose shot was parried by Marcin Bułka. But Florent Mollet was lurking in the box to end the streak of eight consecutive clean sheets for the Nice goalkeeper that began on 22 September against AS Monaco (Matchday 6, 0-1).

LE GYM PUSHES ON

Often disrupted by the pressing of the home side when trying to play out from the back, Les Aiglons almost saw the score worsen just after the hour mark when Douglas Augusto hit the crossbar after a ball cleared through the centre by Bułka (63'). Immediately after, Le Gym could have equalised with an incredible bicycle kick from Moffi, but he was once again denied by Lafont. The Nantes goalkeeper completed his performance by pushing away another header from Thuram in the box, making it his sixth save of the match.

Todibo and his teammates then pushed forward, boosted by the attacking changes initiated by Coach Farioli (Laborde, Bouanani, Boudaoui, Claude-Maurice, and Lotomba all came on), but to no avail, it just wasn't their evening.

Guaranteed to remain in second place at the end of Matchday 14, Les Aiglons will try to bounce back on Sunday 10 December, at the Allianz Riviera, against Stade de Reims (1pm).

Hugo Rondet