Supporter

Crédit Agricole Aiglon of the Match: Benitez and Saliba distinguished

With 19% of the vote, Walter Benitez and William Saliba have been named Crédit Agricole PCA Aiglons of the Match for the encounter between Nice and Bordeaux (0-3).

Wearing the captain’s armband for Le Gym on Sunday for the third time this season, the final line of the OGC Nice defence showed his quality, despite a difficult afternoon for his side. During an equal first half, Benitez denied Basic (2’, 15’) then Adli (18’) and ensured his side went in at the break on level terms.

After the break, he was left with no chance when Hwang struck from six metres out (51’) and when Basic found himself unmarked on the penalty spot (86’). Between the two efforts, he was beaten by a corner that was turned in at the near post by Baysse (75’), after the Frenchman had lost his marker.

In front of his goalkeeper, William Saliba also stood out for the supporters. Starting for the third time since arriving at the club at the start of January, and already picking up the Aiglon of the Match award for the game at Metz (1-1 on Saturday 9 January), the defender demonstrated his ability to remain calm and showed his reliability on the ball. On the pitch, he was the player that made the most passes (73) and had most touches of the ball (89).

The centre back’s anticipation and reading of the game allowed the number 18 to win back seven balls during the match on Sunday afternoon (only Adli, 10 and Nsoki, 9 did better).