Clean and well worked: thanks to a dominating performance, OGC Nice secured the victory over Nîmes in Week 22 of Ligue 1 (2-0).

The features 

One goal before the break, one after, an impressive and serious Benitez: the Gym were able to make things easy for themselves and struck strongly at the right times. Against a rugged yet technically sound Nîmes side, the breaches were always going to open: and the Red and Blacks needed to make the most of that - and they did. With patience and confidence, bit by bit, they began to trouble their visitors, in order to secure a controlled victory - which could have been even bigger.

At the heart of the first half, the two sides created chances, something which made the encounter pleasant to watch. Walter Benitez pulled off (once again) a number of excellent saves when his side needed it. The Argentine pushed away a strike from Bouanga (17’), then tipped over Bobichon’s effort (21’), before holding onto Bouanga’s header (23’) and then denying Bozok (27’). His alter ego in the Nîmes’ net didn’t have much to do before the break but was particularly busy after it. He saw Ganago’s header (2’) and Saint-Maximin’s strike (31’) slip past the post, and then did the necessary from a Wylan free-kick (30’), before being well and truly beaten by a magnificent strike from Atal at the end of the half (41’), and an equally beautiful effort from Saint-Maximin after half-time (54').

Just before the second goal, Benitez did brilliantly to deny Paquiez, after a Nîmes corner (51’). Shortly after, he did well once more, but the Gym wouldn’t be moved. They even created a series of chances, through Sylvestre, Saint-Maximin and Myziane, but on each occasion, Bernardoni reigned supreme.

Vieira’s choices 

Patrick Vieira decided to attack the game in a 4-3-3, with Malang Sarr on the left of the defence but rarely venturing forward - Allan Saint-Maximin delighted in the space on the left; and Youcef Atal on the right, always getting forward in attack. The Gym found the key… thanks to the wings. On the right, then on the left. The coach’s tactics paid off. 

In the middle, the trio of Danilo - Tameze - Cyprien set the rhythm of the game. With a special mention for the Brazilian, who was particularly impressive.

Up-front, Allan Saint-Maximin once again made the difference. Eddy Sylvestre - involved in both of the Nice goals - also showed promise, and Ganago perfectly worked the line allowing his team to play further up the pitch.

Rémi Walter, Myziane and Pierre Lees-Melou came on during the second half, and slipped in nicely with positive showings.

The goals

41’ A move that started on the left and finished on the right. A basketball move. Patience before biting, like a good predator. Eddy Sylvestre carried the ball, Adrien Tameze added pace; and then, like in the previous encounter between the two sides, Youcef Atal was there to finish. 

Like a dart down his right wing, the Algerian full-back made the most of the delightful work of the Franco-Cameroonian midfielder to try his luck, broke into the box and pushed towards goal, before powerfully striking past Bernardoni. What an effort!

54’ From a quick move, Allan Saint-Maximin went into battle, as he likes to do. He was stopped by an opponent, but the ball was picked up by Eddy Sylvestre. The young attacking midfielder who came through the club’s academy, found “ASM”, who took care of the rest. Coming in from the left, ASM injected pace and struck beautifully in the back of the Nîmes’ net.

C.D.

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