OGC Nice got a 1-1 draw at Angers in their first league game of 2020. Le Gym are now unbeaten in four league games, two of them away.

Against an opponent that had been beaten 3-1 at the Allianz Riviera less than two months ago, the visitors were looking for a positive start to the new year. With a host of defenders unavailable, a previously untried centre-back pairing of Danilo and Dante was accompanied on the flanks by Nsoki and Hérelle.

Angers applied pressure from the off and Walter Benitez made four top-drawer saves inside the first 22 minutes. Little by little, Patrick Vieira's men got on the ball and got into the game, but were unable to trouble the home defence and former Nice man Thioub opened the scoring after a neat one-two with Mangani (1-0, 38’).

But Nice soon recovered from the blow and hit back. Claude-Maurice linked up with Boudaoui before firing over (44') and then Cyprien levelled from the penalty spot after Ganogo had been fouled inside the area (1-1, 45+4').

After the break, Le Gym looked sharper, and long-range efforts from Claude-Maurice (51') and Hérelle (54') worried the hosts. A frenetic end to the game might have seen either side snatch the points. Claude-Maurice's shot was blocked by Traoré (85') before Benitez made two stops from Alioui, one from a low drive (86'), the other from a free-kick (90') to ensure his side took home a point.

M.S.

The match in pictures

Bahoken and Angers led Nice a merry dance early on.

Thioub came back to haunt his former club after being cleverly teed up by Mangani (37').​

The visiting fans sang their hearts out even though their team was behind.

Wylan Cyprien's delight at equalising just before the break, his fifth penalty of the season and his seventh league goal this term (45+4').

Adam Ounas came off the bench in the second half.​

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