Montpellier 1-0 Nice

The Gym brought to a stop at Montpellier

In an encounter which lacked chances and was full of errors across the pitch, the Gym were caught out and leave the Hérault without a point.

Belligerent and united in Lyon, excellent against Rennes, the Aiglons didn’t manage to continue their run in order to make it three on the trot on Saturday against Montpellier at the Stade de la Mosson, a stadium in which they have traditionally struggled (only one victory in the 21st century).

Against an opponent that had decided to revert to its 5-3-2, Patrick Vieira decided to field an identical formation, after it had been so successful for the Red and Blacks against Lyon and Rennes. Youcef Atal, who did so well when he came on last weekend, started alongside Mario Balotelli, who was back from injury.

The young Algerian full-back who was working down the right wing, was the main danger for the Aiglons over the 90 minutes, in a game which the Gym never managed to get a hold of. A match which could have changed direction, if the incredible inspiration from Balotelli (a lob from the centre circle in the 4th minute) had been slightly more technically accurate. With plenty of errors on show across the pitch, clear-cut chances were few and far between. Sambia struck at goal but Benitez had closed down the angle (8'), and at the other end, Balotelli tried a difficult volley which flew over (28').

When chances are lacking, set-pieces can make the difference. This could have been the case once more if Atal, and his knee, hadn’t saved Benitez after a strike from Le Tallec after a poorly cleared corner (21').

Heroic against Lyon and Rennes, Walter Benitez was unlucky for the only goal of the game, converted by Laborde. The Argentinian keeper let a strike from Aguilar slip after it had flown through a sea of legs. Opportunistic, the former Bordeaux man found the back of the net and gave his side the lead that we had all feared, given the lack of the opportunities at the other end.

On the hour mark, Patrick Vieira reorganised his side into a 4-3-3 with the arrival of Myziane Maolida to replace Boscagli. The Gym kept more of the ball, Saint-Maximin had better service on his right wing, but the Aiglons still barely troubled Benjamin Lecomte. It was from a set-piece - once again - that they could have got their goal. Dante didn’t find the target with his header from a corner from Saint-Maximin (79'), before Lees-Melou saw a goal disallowed for a questionable foul by Balotelli on his marker, after he had headed on the corner from Saint-Maximin (83'). Atal continued to trouble in the second half and he struck towards goal but Lecomte was there to deny (81’).

The Gym became even more attacking when Vieira brought on Srarfi, and they left spaces in behind, which Delort almost made the most of, but thankfully his strike towards goal struck the post (88'). Balotelli, who won a free-kick on the edge of the box in the dying moments of the day, had a chance but his effort with his right foot flew just centimetres over the bar (90'+2).

A defeat that the Aiglons don’t have the time to mull over given that the league takes them to the Beaujoire to face FC Nantes (beaten in Lille on Saturday, 2-1) on Tuesday!

A.D.

Montpellier, Stade de la Mosson,
Montpellier Hérault 1-0 OGC Nice (half-time 1-0)

Ligue 1 Week 6 - 22/09/2018

Attendance: 11,015

Referee: Thomas Léonard

Goal: Laborde (35') for Montpellier

Yellow cards: Hilton (47'), Sambia (50'), Aguilar (90') for Montpellier ; Balotelli (52'), Saint-Maximin (90'+4) for Nice

Montpellier: Lecomte - Aguilar, Congré, Hilton (cap.), Mendes, Oyongo - Skhiri, Le Tallec, Sambia (Lasne, 86') - Laborde (Skuletic, 83'), Delort

OGC Nice: Benitez - Atal, Hérelle, Dante (cap.), Sarr, Boscagli (Maolida, 58') - Tameze (Srarfi, 85'), Cyprien (Makengo, 73'), Lees-Melou - Saint-Maximin, Balotelli