Despite a good overall performance, Le Gym couldn't create the upset they needed against Schalke 04. In a packed-out Veltins Arena, the Aiglons fell 2-0 despite deserving better, and their Europa League adventure ends in the group stage.

The stakes were clear before the game began: the Niçois had to get a win to have any chance of qualifying. They will now return from Germany without any hopes of a final-day miracle and with the slight feeling of an opportunity missed. A lot of people, a lot of noise and an already qualified opponent who were much changed but still formidable: all the ingredients were there to put Le Gym off their game. Despite the defeat, however, no such thing took place. And Nice fans around the world can be proud. Lucien Favre's men had nothing to envy their illustrious opponents during the first 45 minutes, except perhaps for the stroke of good fortune that can make - or through its absence break - hearts. On the quarter-hour mark, this intangible, inexplicable factor fell in favour of the German side before the steamroller kicked into gear in the second half.

A starter at centre-forward for the first time this season, Tassos Donis signaled his intent 30 metres out and curled a peach of a shot with his right boot… only to see it crash back off the bar, bringing the 972 travelling Nice fans to their feet and sending the 51,000 German fans back to their seats. 

Shortly afterwards, however, the scenario was reversed as Schalke opened the scoring. Meyer scuffed his shot and Konoplyanka beat Cardinale to the ball, turning home (14').

This hammer blow struck Nice's flesh but didn't stop their heart. Having returned to the 3-5-2 used in the early stages of the season, with a three-man central defensive line-up of Souquet-Dante-Boscagli, the Rouge et Noir took the match by the horns in the first half. They played well out of defence, making their hosts do the running and their midfield trio of Mathieu Bodmer, Vincent Koziello and Rémi Walter linked up well with the robust Younès Belhanda, playing as playmaker. They looked to get forward and they created a host of dangerous situations, but couldn't manage to crack the competition's best defence. The incisive Donis, played in by Ricardo, failed to control the ball adequately before racing towards goal (24'). Dalbert's looping cross was snaffled up by the gloves of Fährmann (27'), while the frame of the goal seemed to shift to deny Rémi Walter's effort (34')…

Stranglehold unbroken

Les Aiglons found themselves trailing at the end of a first half in which they had shone the brighter of the two sides. They looked to pick up where they left off as the second half began, but crashed repeatedly into the blue wall of their hosts' defence. Tekpetey's neat pass for Reese almost killed off any suspense as to the final result, but Nice remained in it thanks to the frame of Cardi's goal (52'). Powered by the desire to hit back, Nice were beginning to leave space open at the back.

Off like a rocket on the hour-mark, the powerful Dalbert was brought down in the hosts' area, but Mr. Aghayev didn't blow his whistle. Pushed, like his teammtes, by his desire to get back into the game, Lucien Favre rang the changes on 60 minutes, bringing on Eysseric and Plea for Belhanda and Ricardo and changing to a 4-3-3. Cardi kept the gap at just one goal with a superb dive 20 minutes from time, but the game was already up. Plea's header wide (75') changed nothing and the Rouge et Noir created no further chances. On top of being solid, the 'Miners' doubled their lead with ten minutes left, Dennis Aogo firing home from the spot after a debatable foul from Vincent Koziello (79').

So Le Gym are out of the Europa League with one sole regret: not having played their entire campaign with the verve they showed tonight.

It's something you can't improvise; you learn it through intelligence and determination. However, they still have the match against Krasnodar to end their campaign on a positive note in front of their own fans and collect more experience with a view to getting back to the continental stage in the future.

C.D.

 

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