Stifled by strong pressing from the start of the match, the Aiglons took their time, but managed to prize a positive result from the hands of the Rennais to take home a point from Brittany. 

Four days after their impressive performance against AS St Etienne, Les Aiglons needed to build on that with the first of two away games in Brittany (they travel to Lorient next Saturday). Satisfied by the 4-3-3 that worked so well against the Greens, Lucien Favre opted for the same system, with Koziello back from suspension to replace Walter in the starting eleven.

However, quite differently to their flamboyant start against ASSE  at the Allianz Riviera, the Niçois were to be troubled, suffocated even, from the start of the game by a strong press from the Stade Rennais. A side that is still looking for its first win of 2017 in Ligue 1 (four draws and one defeat), but based on the way it started the game, doesn’t look to be a side that lacks confidence. Well set-up by Sio, it was a neat finish from the former-Niçois Morgan Amalfitano to open the scoring for SRFC (1-0, 6’).

Against Monaco, 8 days ago, the Aiglons had struggled down the right of their defence. This time, it was to be the left side that the opponent focussed on with the duo Amalfitano-Sio causing numerous problems for Dalbert. Whilst the Gym were making the most of the high press to play in behind the Breton defence (a nice opening for Plea was intercepted smartly by Benoit Costil (19’)), the Stade Rennais would get another goal through a rather confusing move. A blocked shot from Prcic was deflected by Baysse and fell into the path of Sio who couldn’t miss. The assistant referee raised his flag but changed his mind just a few seconds after - it would seem correctly.

Plea leaves the pitch injured

A knock back for les Aiglons, who struggled to get back on track and failed to register a shot in the first 30 minutes of the game. A further blow followed after, when Alassane Plea was injured following a challenge with Pedro Mendes and was forced to be withdrawn as he seemed to have turned his right knee. Nice’s top scorer was replaced by Anastasios Donis just before the break. The Gym avoided going 3-0 down in the dying seconds of the first-half thanks to a fine save from Yoan Cardinale denying Mubele

Following the break the locals continued their pressing game. The Gym, who couldn’t allow themselves to be pushed back like that, managed to play further up the pitch but inevitably left spaces behind them. In one of those opportunities, Mubele enjoyed himself down the right and took it beyond Souquet before picking off Dante and then he failed with the easiest part and couldn’t trouble Cardinale’s goal (51’). An opportunity to make it 3-0 that the Rennais will regret for some time to come. A few minutes later, the Gym got themselves back into the game through a first goal in Red and Black for Tassos Donis, who was at both the start and conclusion of a fine move with Valentin Eysseric. The Greek striker finished perfectly to reduce the deficit (2-1, 59’).

As you may have expected, the high intensity pressing from the Rennais fell in the final 30 minutes. After more smart play from Donis, Cyprien had a chance to equalise but his effort, unlike on Wednesday, lacked quality and flew off into the stands of Roazhon Park (65’). It was only a matter of time though for OGC Nice who were dominating and becoming more consistent. Lucien Favre had been disappointed with the way his side chased the game in Monaco after trailing, and it would seem that his players heard him.

Even though Rennes continued to pose threats through Sio who proved to be a handful (lob that went just wide, 74’), it was Nice that controlled the game. Donis beat  Bensebaini before pulling his shot wide of the post.  Like for the first goal, it was a fantastic one-two, this time in the centre circle between Seri and Eyserric that allowed the Gym to get back on level terms. With a two-on-one and after a run of over 35m, Eysseric slotted the ball beyond Costil and equalised for the Gym (2-2, 81’).

There were ten minutes left and even though a point was a positive result, the Aiglons threw themselves forward once more punishing the opponent that was struggling physically. Two counters in the dying seconds could have even allowed the Gym to get the three points. With this draw, the Gym see Monaco and Paris extend their gap slightly, but once again the Aiglons distance themselves from those sides chasing them.

A.D.

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