It has been a difficult end to the year for the Gym, who left the Stade de la Meinau without a point, as they were deservedly beaten by RC Strasbourg (2-0).

Set-up in a 3-6-1 (or a 3-4-3 in attack) as they had done for the Coupe de la Ligue, the Aiglons faced the same difficulties offensively. Without several attacking squad members, the latest being Allan Saint-Maximin (twisted knee), Patrick Vieira entrusted the striker position to Ignatius Ganago, but the young Cameroon forward had very little service to feed on.

Despite a respectable start to the game, with strikes on target from a Cyprien free kick (5’) and Atal with his left (18’), the Gym were troubled by the home side’s first real chance. Played in deep by Lala, Adrien Thomasson was able to flick the ball over the onrushing Walter Benitez to open the scoring (1-0, 26'). The realism of the Strasbourg side was put beyond doubt just before the break as, from a corner, Lamine Koné rose highest in the box and beat Sarr and Benitez to double the lead with a header (2-0, 41').

The Strasbourgeois could have killed the game off straight out from the dressing rooms, if it hadn’t been for a reflex save by Walter Benitez on his line to deny Mothiba (46’). But the Red and Blacks then had the chance to get back into the game, with a penalty after Caci fouled Atal (54'). Unfortunately, Wylan Cyprien was denied by the Belgian keeper Matz Sels, and Ihsan Sacko’s rebound went just past the post (56'). In the final half an hour, Patrick Vieira strengthened his attack with the arrivals of Sacko, Sylvestre (first pro appearance) and Srarfi but the Gym, despite a great presence around the box, couldn’t manage to reduce the score. Atal was denied by an imperious Sels, in what was the second best chance for the visitors (88').

This defeat puts an end to the Gym’s excellent run in Ligue 1 (7 games without defeat: 4 wins and 3 draws), which sees their opponent join them on the same number of points in 7th place. The return to competitive football for the Aiglons is scheduled for Saturday 5 January, in the Coupe de France at Toulouse.

A.D.

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