In their first pre-season friendly, OGC Nice racked up a fine win against Nîmes (4-0).

A little more than 10 days after getting back into training, Les Aiglons played their first friendly in the build-up to the new season against Nîmes Olympique (National 1). The Niçois started well: Youssouf Ndayishimiye’s long ball forward found Jonathan Clauss, who darted inside to pick out Isak Jansson. The Swedish winger whipped the ball into the top corner for the opening goal (1-0, 4’).

Clauss, who captained the side in the first half, looked particularly lively. He freed Zoumana Diallo, who was upended in the penalty area. Diallo himself sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot to double his team’s lead (2-0, 18’). After the hydration break, Nîmes sought to hit back but Teddy Boulhendi (34’) was solid and then Youssouf Ndayishimiye got back to snuff out the danger (36’).

Abergel DEBUT

The first half also allowed Laurent Abergel to pick up his first minutes in the Gym’s colours. A busy presence in the middle of the park, he was often available to teammates between the lines.

After the break, an entirely new line-up emerged and were quickly on the front foot. Now wearing the captain’s armband, Sofiane Diop fired off a shot that took a touch on its way into the net (3-0, 52’) before Melvin Bard teed up Victor Orakpo for the fourth. The 18-year-old’s finely measured lob completed the scoring (4-0, 62’) even though Diop came close to adding a fifth, but saw his effort come back off the crossbar (71’).

---