In their first autumn warm-up game, OGC Nice registered a 4-1 win over Standard Liege on Thursday afternoon.

In Marbella for their World Cup training camp, Le Gym used two different line-ups in this warm-up fixture bar goalkeeper Teddy Boulhendi.

Employed in a 4-2-3-1 system, both Gym sides won their half of the encounter, tallying a 4-1 cumulative score that bodes well for the future.

ACT 1 DEALT WITH WELL

During the first half, Khephren Thuram was particularly influential, and after being teed up by Nicolas Pepe, opened the scoring (1-0, 32').

The France U21 international was involved in everything, and sent a shot wide from a corner (19') before doing the same from distance shortly after (29'). 

Defensively, the Aiglons gave very little away, though Aron Donnum struck the crossbar late on for Standard.

Le Gym's 1st half line-up

Boulhendi – Lotomba, Todibo, Dante (cap), Bard – Boudaoui, Belahyane, Thuram, Ilie – Pepe, Laborde.

NEW FACES IN THE SECOND HALF

Without Youcef Atal (ill), Ross Barkley (back), Marcin Bulka, Sofiane Diop and Mario Lemina (individual recovery work), Le Gym presented a number of tactical firsts after the break: Joe Bryan on the right, Mads Bech Sorensen the left-sided centre-back, Mattia Viti left-back, Daouda Traoré left winger. Badredine Bouanani was in support of Andy Delort, and they quickly took control.

Back from a knee injury, Delort doubled the lead with a sparkling half-volley on the hour-mark (2-0, 60'). Standard then pulled one back through a Denis Dragus header (2-1, 70'), but Nice quickly restored their two-goal advantage through Delort, captain for the second period (3-1, 74') shortly after he had missed a penalty. 

Bouanani's cross set up the third Nice goal, a fine way to celebrate his 18th birthday, and he then repeated the feat to allow Pablo Rosario to score his first goal for Le Gym (4-1, 80').

Billal Brahimi almost scored a superb fifth (81'), but saw his curler strike a  post. 

Le Gym's preparations continue with another friendly against Girona on Saturday (kick-off 11am CET).

Le Gym line-up in the 2nd half

Boulhendi - Bryan, Nahounou, Bech Sorensen, Viti, Brahimi, Rosario, Traoré, Beka Beka, Bouanani, Delort (c).

 

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