Stronger and more attacking, Le Gym proved too much for Lyon in the big match of Week 9 of the season, running out 2-0 winners. Les Aiglons continue their march at the top of the standings.

Commitment. Pride. Audacity! The reception of OL was billed as a summit clash, and Le Gym met in head on, with plenty of ambition. "We only know after the match if the international break did us good", goes the old saying. The match has just finished and we have seen the benefits of the week off, off hard work in training on the pitch, and also in the video room. Once again, Lucien Favre concocted another tactical elixir that saw Les Aiglons make a brilliant start and make the early breakthrough. The formation? An impressive "new generation diamond" that allowed the home side to benefit from a numerical advantage in the middle of the park. Expected to be the No.10, Cyprien sat in front of the defence, with Seri to his right, Walter to his left and Belhanda – the playmaker – sitting just behind Super Mario, in the central striking role.

The tactics paid dividends from the outset. Disorganised, Lyon should have been penalised immediately when Mapou fouled Balotelli in the penalty box, but the referee, Mr Buquet waved play on (4’). But the goal arrived just a minute later when the excellent Mika Seri sent a free-kick to the back post where Malang Sarr headed back towards Paul Baysse who volleyed home left footed. The Allianz Riviera exploded in joy as their captain’s crisp shot flew into the back of the net.

After opening the scoring, Les Rouge et Noir continued to dominate in a superb first 30 minutes, before controlling the remainder of the half. Short passes, creating the overlaps, often inspired and always calm and confident – the home side was giving Les Gones the run-around. The visitors lost their way, and then their nerve. Nabil Fekir took his frustrations out on Paul Baysse and received a deserved red card for his troubles (28’). It was a case of déjà vu for Les Niçois who had found themselves ahead on the scoreboard and a man up as well in the first half, at Parc OL late last season. Tonight they had the chance to show that the team has grown since that game in Lyon. It wasn’t easy, but, in the end, they did it.

While Lyon were behind on points, this match wasn’t over just yet. A ball over the top and a miss-hit shot from Tolisso early in the second half reminded Nice that needed to kill the game off and continue their march at the top of the standings.

Le Gym has grown...

Apart from a good long-range effort from Dalbert and a series of free-kicks from Balotelli, Les Niçois didn’t create many clear-cut chances in the opening 45 minutes. After the restart, Ricardo – author of a fine display down the right – set the tone with a great run and cross for Belhanda who couldn’t direct his header goalwards (51’).

Like last season, Bruno Genesio made attacking changes early in the second period, taking off Mapou (a central defender) and introducing Ghezzal (an attacker) and replacing Ferri by Lacazette. The Algerian international, an excellent dribbler, launched a solo raid that required saving by Cardi. Fans of Le Gym had been given a scare.

Those same fans were almost celebrating a second goal moments later when Walter blasted over (60’) and Dalbert didn’t get enough behind his effort (62’). Aware that they were leading and that with another clean sheet, victory would be theirs, Les Aiglons were faced with that eternal dilemma: how to attack without leaving yourself open at the back? How to maintain that balance, to avoid an equaliser and hold onto the three points? They found the answer...

While Lopes made a series of saves (Cyprien 68’, followed by Balotelli 70’), it was Mika Seri that finally settled the matter once and for all. After a fine team move, Belhanda curled an effort that came back off the far post, before the Colonel – promoted to Commandant this evening – fired the rebound home from the edge of the area. The crowd went wild! The same crowd that chanted to the glory of Super Mario after he saw his penalty saved by Lopes (80’).

Disciplined and offensive, Nice remain perched atop the tree in the top flight after another massive performance. It never looked in doubt! And Lyon are now ten points adrift... now that’s a nice little buffer...

C.D.

 

---