Superior in the first-half and willing in the second, the Gym weren’t able to secure a victory over Toulouse (1-1). Despite, a good performance, the Red and Blacks take a point home from a frustrating 34th match of the season.

Movement, technique and desire. When these three virtues are achieved, football shines through its simplicity. During an impressive first period, the Aiglons succeeded in each of the three with magnificent fluidity. Without, however, managing to open the scoring, which would go on to be their stumbling block in this game. Lucien Favre’s starting 4-2-3-1? It looked good on paper, but the movement of his flock, wearing white this afternoon, made the system flexible and dangerous. With the Violets’ rigid 4-4-3 only finding answers through their solidarity during the second period.

Mobile, Eysseric often came off his wing to add numbers through the middle. Belhanda directed proceedings with precision and didn’t hesitate to push on or to move out wide to create space. Seri or Koziello took turns in coming out from the back to add to the Aiglons’ grip on the game… The consequence of these exchanges (worked and reworked throughout the week by Lucien Favre), was a domination for the whole of the first-half. Loyal to their philosophy, the Aiglons created several opportunities.

On the assembly line: Souquet flew like a dart all the way until the Toulouse byline and set-up Eysseric who had dropped deep, but it was just a bit too short (1’).

Mika Le Bihan, starting the game up-front, took on Diop and pushed towards the goal but he lost out in his battle against a on-form Lafont (12'). Lafont smartly pushed away a strike from Le Bihan (given offside after 15'), saw a free-kick from Seri crash against the woodwork (17') and then, stopped another strike that came from Nice’s number 10, who had been assisted by Valentin Eysseric (21').

Still as in-form as in previous weeks, the playmaker broke into the box and had his standing leg taken from beneath him… and got a yellow card for his protests following his total lack of understanding in front of an unmoved Mr Schneider (35').

The number of opportunities (including a shot that flew over from Koziello and a strike from Ricardo that was dealt with by the Violets’ keeper, both chances that the Niçois could have finished) just goes to show the Gym’s domination. The home side created two half-chances, but Souquet superbly managed Braithwaite and then, Cardi prevented a lob from the Danish international.

New reaction

Football, being an inexact science - which makes the sport so beautiful, but yet sometimes so cruel - saw Toulouse open the scoring upon their return from the dressing rooms. Corentin Jean came off of his right wing to arrive into the centre of the box and to strike with his left foot (56'). The first goal didn’t shake Lucien Favre’s side though, driven by a unwavering belief. After a corner, the unmissable Eysseric picked up the ball and let rip a monstrous strike with his right (58').

The encounter came into is own in the final thirty minutes, the sun heated the atmosphere in the Stadium. Having just come on, Durmaz moved from the right into the middle and shot well with his left… onto Cardinale’s bar. The goalkeeper proved important shortly after as he threw himself at Julien in the box. Then, the game got tougher, The Gym kept the ball, and camped themselves in the Toulouse half. The opposition on the other hand, sat back and tried to attack through counter-attacks, moving at pace into their moves. 

With 15 minutes to go, another free-kick from Seri came close to troubling the opposition’s goal (76'). Lucien Favre threw on Donis and Balotelli to try to secure the win. It wasn’t to happen. In other times and another period, a point from the Stadium would have been a good result. 

It leaves, on Sunday, a real feeling of frustration amongst the Niçois who are certain of finishing in the top three but wanted to push on further.

C.D.

 

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