Taking all three points is always good. Entertaining your fans is even better. In 2016, the Allianz Riviera was treated to matches in which their Aiglons often got the better of the opponents who came calling on Plaine du Var - with skill, audacity and panache.

Stats at the Allianz

2016: an exceptional vintage. Since its inauguration, the Aiglons' new stadium has never been as dangerous for visiting opponents. The numbers for 2016: 24 matches in all competitions, 17 wins, three draws, one elimination on penalties in the Coupe de France by Rennes, one defeat in Ligue 1 (against Bastia) and two in the Europa League. This leaves us with a win rate of 71%. "In any case, it's clear: we know that if we want to have a good run, we need to be unbeatable at home," is the word in the dressing room. Since the beginning of season 2016-2017, Le Gym have won eight times and drawn twice at home in the league - proof that they're digging in for a long stay at the summit of French football.

The match

Several matches were in the running for Match of the Year, either from the first half of this season or the second half of last. But in the end it was a local contest with national implications. On 21 September, Nice played host to south-coast neighbours Monaco in a hotly contested derby. The Aiglons fought tooth and nail and clinched a first-ever win over their local rivals at the Allianz Riviera - while handing them the biggest defeat of the season, 4-0.

On the pitch: 2016 in five photos

Nice - Rennes, 10 April: Le Gym reçoit Rennes, un adversaire direct pour la course à l'Europe, lors d'une rencontre où il peut effectuer un beau pas en avant. Il franchira l'obstacle avec éclat, dans le sillage du magicien Hatem Ben Arfa, auteur d'un triplé retentisant.

Nice - St-Etienne, 7 May: This is the match that sent the 2015-2016 Aiglons side into the history books. At the end of a huge battle, Valère Germain brought a packed-out Allianz Riviera to its feet ten minutes from time and then scored another in the following minutes. The hugely important win secured Le Gym a place Europa League's preliminary rounds.

Nice - Marseille, 11 September: Falling behind to OM after being a goal up, Le Gym pulled it together and claimed a dramatic win thanks to Wylan Cyprien's long-range screamer that got the better of Pelé to make it 3-2.

Nice - Lorient, 2 October: Out of sorts and threatened by a solid Lorient outfit, the Aiglons got their noses in front at the death thanks to sotrke of genius from Mario Balotelli (2-1). The shirt came off for a celebration that will remain etched in Nice's memory for some time to come.

Nice - Krasnodar, 8 December: Already knocked out of the Europa League, the Rouge et Noir claimed their first home win of the European campaign against Krasnodar (2-1). Symbolically, Max le Marchand, back after seven months with a cruciate knee ligament injury, scored one of the goals.

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