Solid and tight during the first 45 minutes, the Gym finally stumbled in the face of their  Monegasque neighbours during the second-half of the 23rd match of the season (0-3).

This extraordinary week saw us build this game up as “one world against another world”. On this day in which all of the eyes in French football were fixed on the Côte d'Azur, it was first of all typified by two solid blocks who were both doing everything to beat the other. Before kick-off, this derby was a battle between two potential winners of the title? The battle got going from the very first whistle.

In a Stade Louis-II dominated by the Nice support, the Aiglons entered into this game chomping at the bit and with a clear game plan. Like in the first game against Monaco, Lucien Favre decided to change shape in midfield, by putting Seri and Cyprien through the middle and putting two attacking players further forward to support Balotelli. At the back, captain Baysse made his return alongside Dante and Sarr, with Souquet and Dalbert who were at wing-back. Calm but determined, the Red and Blacks started the brighter with strong work from the two wing-backs. Two crosses from wide in the first five minutes, one from the left and the other from the right, wouldn’t find any takers in the middle. They would prove, however, that the neighbour from along the coast wasn’t going to lie down and be turned-over.

In a match in which each mistake would be made to pay, the key would be to remain solid and focussed. The Gym effectively combined these two elements during the first half, providing the intensity required to keep it level. Faced with this, the best attack in Europe and its unchangeable 4-4-2, would dominate but came up against, in the first-half, two walls of black shirts. The two walls which had a Cardinale in top form behind them and he made his mark with authority. The keeper made two decisive saves in the first period. The first of which, after 15 minutes, from a free-kick that he boxed away off of the head of Glik. The second, from a shot from Bernardo after half an hour, which he classily turned away from his goal.

Offensively, the Gym weren’t going to lie down and be outdone in the first-half. They thought they had taken the lead through Plea after Cyprien had played him in, but the linesman flagged for offside (18’); before a shot from Eysseric flew just past the post (33’).

A wretched quarter of an hour

Although they had been largely neutralised during the first-half, the Red and Whites would hit the ground running upon the return from the dressing rooms, when Benjamin Mendy found the head of Valère Germain. The ex-Aiglon, who enjoyed last season with Nice, left Cardinale with no chance and headed back across goal and into the back of the net (47’). There was a feeling of deja vu in the Louis-II, as, just like the last derby away from home, the Niçois would need to push on to get something from the game. They made life more difficult for themselves after an hour, as Mendy once again crossed well and found Falcao who turned in from close range.

In a terrible fifteen minutes, the efforts of the first-half were reduced to nothing. The Gym were forced to chase after the game, at the same time without leaving too many holes at the back to allow the opponents the opportunity to go on and score more. Following this, Favre decided to throw on Belhanda to replace Sarr and changed the system into a 4-2-3-1. Belhanda would try his luck from 20 metres on 70 minutes, but his effort went over the top of the Monaco goal. Then Balotelli was knocked off balance in the box, with Mr Bastien unmoved, Plea was unable to finish with his head  (78’).

The game was put to bed when Falcao used his experience to score his second with precision (81’). It wasn’t to be Nice’s day.

“One world against another world” was spoken about during the week. On the pitch, one half would prove just that.  Monaco secured the win to ensure they stay at the top of the table.

But despite that the Aiglons still find themselves just 3 points behind a leader who has enormous quality.

C.D.

 

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