On Saturday the Aiglons started their pre-season on the right foot, by winning convincingly against Stade Nyonnais (4-2).

A return to football needs to be serious in order for it to be useful. On this first Saturday of July 2018, the Red and Blacks put all of the ingredients into the bowl to transform this first outing into a good training session. Studious, committed. For this first edition, Patrick Vieira, decided to field one team per half. Both set up in a 4-3-3. Each looked up to speed, the only really challenge of the afternoon.

The Nice team in the first half

Lead by an incredibly focussed Dante, the first side took 10 minutes to get into the game. After this time had gone, they moved forward, looking to add pace to the game.

This caused Stade Nyonnais (Swiss 3rd Division) endless problems. By magic or by logic, the opening of the score came from a good team move. In the heart of the game, on the left hand side, Cyprien found Saint-Maximin, who played in Walter with his first touch. Starting at the tip of the middle, the man who was loaned to Troyes during the 2nd half of the season played in youngster Hamache on the left, whose deflected cross led to an interesting corner. Alert and accurate in its delivery - or almost -, Cyprien found the head of Diaby-Fadiga. The header from the youngster, who started a game for the first time with the first team (he made a substitute appearance against Vitesse Arnhem) smashed against the bar, and Lees-Melou scored the first goal of the summer with a smart half-volley (1-0, 15’).

In the moments that followed, Romain Perraud, playing on the right of the defence, overtook St-Max, like a dart. Accurate, the left footed player from the South West broke into the box, cut onto his stronger foot, and eventually beat Da Silva and found the back of the net (2-0, 18’).

At the origin of the move, a good recovery from Vincent Marcel. Battling and accorte when he went to the right of the attacking trio, the number 19 battled to start the move for the third goal. Played into "ASM", who, as usual was difficult to mark – despite the summer break - and was put away by Lamine Diaby-Fadiga, the left footed forward scored first time with his right foot at the near post (3-0, 35’).

The 11 starters continued to run during the break, before handing the baton to their teammates. Some very young teammates…

The Nice team in the second half

Defensively, the Gym were troubled by a move before the break and by another just after. From one, Ramadani, perfectly played in by Delley behind the defence, struck strongly over the bar. From the other, the bubbly Mobulu hit Cardinale’s bar (the keeper was wearing the armband in the second half). On the hour mark, Mobulu was just centimetres away from getting onto a cross from Delley.

In attack, the Azuréens caused less problems for the home goal than in the first 45 minutes. The first part of the second half was brought to life by Danilo, whose effort looped over the goalkeeper but was cleared of the line by a Swiss defender. For his first appearance in his new colours, the former Braga man showed real promise. Agressive at the breakdown, he showed his talent for keeping the ball, and showed his expertise when he found Burner around 60 minutes into the game.

On the pitch, the moves became less accurate, despite total commitment from the players. But even with less precision, the punch of Burner, the accuracy of Danilo and the drive of Makengo (and others) allowed the team to work respectably. This work started in the final 20 minutes. Minutes during which, the second half side deservedly found the back of the net. Loyal to itself, applied in defence and dangerous with the ball at their feet, Patrick Burner created himself a chance with fifteen minutes to go. The man from Martinique received a cross from D. Barbosa, cut in from his wing, then tried with his left, hit the target and turned away in delight.

The Yellow and Blacks reduced the score with 10 minutes to go, from a move where Odemis beat Pelmard and then found a way past Cardi’ (1-4, 81').

Nice dominated the end of the game and created two opportunities (a run from Dramé, followed up by  Sacko, which Ganago couldn’t turn home; and a header from Burner which went wide); but conceded a second goal from a scrappy free-kick which was turned home by Fargues (2-4, 90').

Thanks to this good session, and despite a less impressive end to the game, the Aiglons got their trip going in the right way.

They will be able to relax on Sunday before attacking a huge week of work.

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