The Aiglons put in a strong and hard-working performance to defeat Lorient 3-0 on Friday in the opening game of Matchday 30 of Ligue 1, consolidating their position in fifth place.

At last! It had been nearly three months (including a win over Metz) since OGC Nice had finished a match in their own stadium with the sweet taste of victory in their mouths. They got the job done on Friday with a 3-0 victory over Lorient at the Allianz Riviera, the biggest win of the season. Technical control, constant pressure, attacking and defensive efficiency... Francesco Farioli's men produced a near-perfect performance to kick off the 30th round of Ligue 1.

After a week's break, following the postponement of the match against OM until next Wednesday, Les Aiglons were hungry. Beaten by Nantes (M27, 1-2) and held to a goalless draw at Reims (M28, 0-0), Dante and Co gave everything they had to secure a crucial victory in the race for Europe. Boosted by the return of Morgan Sanson, who started in midfield alongside Pablo Rosario and Khephren Thuram, Les Azuréens quickly made their mark on the match. Up against a Breton side fighting to stay up, Le Gym began to make their presence felt with long-range shots, such as Jeremie Boga's effort that went narrowly wide of Yvon Mvogo's right-hand post (15').

SANSON REWARDED

The Swiss keeper was solid on his line and made a great save a few moments later to keep out Thuram's powerful header, after he had jumped higher than anyone else to meet Sanson's cross (18'). The Aiglons, who were pressing all over the pitch, were making their opponents suffer and were eventually rewarded for their efforts. Sanson, back in the starting line-up after being sidelined for several weeks with a calf problem, made his mark when he picked up the ball from the feet of Isaak Touré, before bursting into the opposition box to unleash a powerful right-footed drive that nestled under Mvogo's bar (22', 1-0). It was a fitting reward for the consistent efforts of Le Gym's summer signing, who scored his first Ligue 1 goal of the season, following two in the Coupe de France at Bordeaux.

Pleins d'entrain, les Rouge et Noir sont passés tout proche du break en fin de première période, lorsque Melvin Bard s'est chargé d'intercepter un bon ballon au niveau du rond central. Trouvé au second poteau, Mohamed-Ali Cho a trop tergiversé, ne parvenant pas à ajuster Mvogo de près (35e). 

LE GYM CONTINUED TO ATTACK

Looking lively, the Rouge et Noir came close to scoring again at the end of the first half when Melvin Bard intercepted a good ball in the centre circle. Mohamed-Ali Cho was found at the far post but hesitated a little too long, failing to beat Mvogo from close range (35').

The half-time whistle sounded with the score at 1-0, but Nice's determination continued. Vigilant defensively, like Marcin Bułka's collection from Imran Louza's in-swinging corner (30'), Nice continued to attack. On a counter-attack started by Sanson, Cho beat Touré on the right of the box before crossing to Moffi. The ball was cleared poorly, and Boga latched on to it to curl home his fifth goal of the season (53', 2-0).

Having taken their foot off the pedal, Les Aiglons retreated, leaving control of the ball to their Breton opponents. This tactic led to several opportunities on the counter, such as substitute Gaëtan Laborde's effort that failed to trouble Mvogo (60'), or Hicham Boudaoui winning the ball high before also being stopped by the solid Merlus keeper (83'). Evann Guessand, who came on as a substitute, completed the scoring for Nice, capitalising on a foray forward from Jean-Clair Todibo. The central defender was in the penalty area after Laborde's shot had been pushed away, and he got his second assist of the season when he found his number 29, who turned and finished (89', 3-0).

The scoreline could have been bigger, but Les Aiglons can take plenty of satisfaction from this fine victory, their third in Ligue 1 in 2024. A victory that serves as the starting point for a breathless final sprint as Le Gym sit in fifth place in the league, two points outside the top four. A sprint that will now take them to a fiery derby in Marseille, set for 9pm on Wednesday 24 April.