On Wednesday, Le Gym fell to defeat against Marseille, at the end of Week 3 in L1 (1-2).

The features 

In an electric derby and a lively atmosphere, it was written in the stars that the difference would come down to very little. That very little would fall in Marseille’s favour. Without showing much, the neighbours found themselves leading after half an hour, and then again with fifteen minutes to go. From a Nice point of view, Patrick Vieira’s side battled, showed desire and some smart play, thought that they had done the difficult part when they got the equaliser from a Cyprien penalty, but were caught out in the moment that they thought they had the opposition under pressure. 

The first turning point of the match came at the thirty minute mark. From a simple move, Sarr was played in down the right, crossed for Benedetto, who found the back of the net with a half-volley, after a slight deflection from Dante (0-1, 31’). The opener came just after a ten minute interruption to the game after chants from the stands. Before that, Le Gym had done nearly everything well. Adding impact, pace and creating several chances. But they lacked efficacy. Cyprien’s effort from 20 metres brushed past Mandanda’s goal (8’), Tameze didn’t manage to get on the end of a cross from Lees-Melou, which Ganago struck first time, but still nobody was there to turn home (22’).

After the goal, the wind was knocked out of their sails but Les Aiglons pushed forward immediately, with selflessness but lacking that final product (a strike from Ganago was deflected by Sanson in the 45th minute and a strike from Lusamba flew over in the 46th). Les Phocéens, looked sharp in the final ten minutes of the first half, but couldn’t find the back of the net on two occasions, the first being an exact replica of the first goal and then a header from Sanson. Both chances were thankfully stopped by Benitez.

To sum up, Les Aiglons were going to need to find that little something and bring it back to their side in order to turn the game around. Sticking to the same plan, using the pace of an extremely active Ganago, Lusamba’s skill and Cyprien’s accurate right-foot. 

The Cameroonian forward was found in the box by Sacko, who flicked on for Burner immediately after the break, but the full-back’s effort didn’t find the target. Le Gym continued to push for the equaliser, but understandably left some gaps at the back in doing so. OM almost made the most of this in the 56th minute, but their lightning counter with a numerical advantage ended badly when Bendetto’s effort flew over. 

Atal came on (62'), sent the stadium into a frenzy, and you could feel that something was going to happen. It did indeed happen. Quickly. Very quickly. Barely on the pitch for a minute and the Algerian star already broke free down the right and let rip with a powerful effort that was pushed away by Mandanda. From the corner that followed, Cissé headed firmly at goal, but the French stopper was equal to it. The move that followed was the one that was needed. Very comfortably, Lusamba dropped deeper (see below), and beautifully found Ganago, who showed his pace and won a penalty. Cyprien made no mistake from 12 yards (1-1, 66'). 

Unfortunately, Pelmard tripped Germain in the box just after and Payet gave Marseille the advantage once more from the penalty spot (73').

After that, Le Gym were unable to come back for a second time. 

Patrick Vieira’s choices 

For this derby, the coach maintained his confidence in the side that brought home the three points from Nîmes (still in a 4-3-3), with just two exceptions, Benitez and Pelmard. 

Fit again after his quadriceps injury, the Argentinian keeper took his place in goal. Pelmard played on the left hand side of the defence, replacing the suspended Coly. Burner played on the right of the back four, with Herelle and Dante through the middle. 

In midfield, Tameze and Lees-Melou played either side of Cyprien, who was sitting in front of the defence. 

Ganago started on the right of the attack, Sacko on the left, and Lusamba as a false 9.

Shortly after the break, Cissé came on to replace the injured Herelle (55'). 

Then Atal came on five minutes later to replace Tameze. Lusamba, who had been in good form until then, dropped back slightly to play at 8, and Ganago played through the middle. A choice that paid off, given that it was Lusamba who found Ganago beautifully, when he won the penalty for the equaliser. 

Patrick Vieira threw the kitchen sink at the game in the final 10 minutes, sending on Le Bihan to replace Pelmard and switch to a 3-5-2. 

Here is the Nice side that finished the match: Benitez - Cissé, Dante (cap), Burner - Sacko, Lusamba, Cyprien, Lees-Melou, Atal - Ganago, Le Bihan. 

The results from Week 3

The league table 

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