This time, the Gym didn’t come back. Beaten by Marseille after a spirited derby (1-2), the Aiglons now know that they will finish the season in 3rd place in Ligue 1. Both frustrating yet a magnificent achievement at the same time.

A dozen clear chances. Striking the woodwork twice. The dominance of the game and the keys to the match at their feet. To write that the Niçois assertively went about their game in their neighbour’s backyard would be an understatement, the photo previously shown demonstrates just that. But dominating doesn’t mean winning as the expression says, and Lucien Favre’s side found themselves trailing against the run of play, before falling to the pressure of the home side during a bitter tasting second-half. 

One week after the victory over Paris, the same 11 lined-up for the derby, hugely motivated. Set-up in an established 4-2-3-1, Dante and his teammates took the game by the scruff of the neck, making the most of a disorganised press from their opponent to open up gaps across the pitch. Finding space in the gaps, and working on their ideas and then, attacking.

From the get go, Balotelli recovered the ball and played it into Belhanda, who freed Ricardo. After having used his left to find the net last week, the Portuguese international this time relied on his right, and shot but found the crossbar of Pelé’s goal (3'). Seri turned smartly and shot over (9'). Dalbert, following a one-two with Eysseric, shot across with his left and found the post (13'). Balotelli, the gloves of the “albatros” (19')... But it just wouldn’t happen for the Gym. The Phocéens, who were constantly in shape as they defended, resisted courageously in the first instance, before pushing further up to ease the pressure. At the same time, they were incredibly dangerous offensively, which rather accurately sums up their season. Yoan Cardinale came out brilliantly to keep his side in the game, as Sanson popped up 1-on-1 after Nice had given the ball away (15').

Cardinale then went on to turn the ball away from Gomis (17'), before the French international won the ball at the near post after a corner was sent in by Payet and opened the scoring (21').

Without pressure - and sometimes maybe over relaxed -, the Aiglons didn’t give up under pressure from the Marseillais. Paul Baysse thought he had equalised from a rebounded free-kick taken by Seri, but was flagged, marginally, offside (24'). Rod Fanni almost scored an own goal as he tried to clear a Red and Black cross (25'). Belhanda lobbed Pelé but Rolanda cleared it off the line (30'). Dalbert mystified Cabella to play in Ricardo, whose effort almost troubled the Marseille goal… but, the Niçois didn’t lay down their arms. Following a strike from Cabella, their final wall of defence was called into action to keep the score as it was.

A fatal quarter of an hour

Not rewarded in the first-half, the men from the Côte went for it again from the first whistle in the second. Winding back the clocks to their first attack. Super Mario, concentrated and opportunistic played his role. From a free-kick played in by Seri, captain Paul Baysse got to it and pushed the ball into the danger zone, where the Gym’s top scorer for 2016/2017 calmly finished the job (50’).

Cardinale pulled out another important stop just after the equaliser, but, paradoxically, the Aiglons took the foot off the gas for a long 15 minutes. Less and less assured in their passing, they dropped deeper and ended up cracking and shooting themselves in the foot in the 66th minute. Marseille intercepted high up the pitch, Lopez played in Evra, and the experienced full-back gave his side the lead with a header at the back post.

Nice took the blow badly. But once the pain had worn off, Nice tried to come back. Lucien Favre employed all of his attacking options. Donis replaced Ricardo, Le Bihan Koziello, Srarfi Eysseric : Belhanda dropped back slightly and the Azuréens finished in a 4-4-2. Balotelli and Donis created chances but couldn’t convert them. Marseille, far from being curled up in a ball, decided to attack to secure the game, and equally created some good chances. But the score would stay the same.

Heroic throughout this season, the Niçois lost for only the 3rd time in the league. They now know that they will end the season with the bronze medal. Something we can all be extremely proud of…

C.D.

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