On Tuesday, Le Gym missed out on picking up points from its derby. On the road at the neighbours in Monaco, Les Aiglons fell to defeat (3-1) during Week 7 of Ligue 1. 

The features of the game

“A derby isn’t played but rather it is won” goes the saying. And on Tuesday, Les Aiglons lacked enough consistency in their performance in order to trouble ASM. Which over and above the lack of points, leaves several regrets and a bitter taste in the mouths of the visitors and their supporters.

In the first half, despite a strong first twenty minutes, Le Gym were troubled and then deservedly found themselves trailing, after a sumptuous goal from Golovin from a short corner played by the home side (1-0, 22’). The score could have been even more painful just minutes later if Mr. Lesage, with the assistance of VAR, hadn’t raised his flag for a Martins offside before Slimani found the back of the net (30’).

In the same system, but with Ounas in the heart of the battle (see below), Les Aiglons generally lacked that cutting edge, something that their start and a huge chance for Claude-Maurice (pushed away Lecomte) wouldn’t have suggested. However, the Monoco 5-3-2 left spaces in behind the full backs and Atal gave Gil Dias endless problems before the break. Every time that the Algerian got the better of his counterpart, his side created good chances but were unable to put them away (Tameze was denied by Lecomte in the 13th minute, and the cross from Youcef was stopped by the keeper at the end of the first half). But the Monaco left back remained solid and committed, before he was taken off at the break due to injury.

Although the visitors did continue to put some pressure of the home side’s goal during the first half of the game - as was shown by Nsoki’s header over the bar following a Cyprien corner (37’) -, the men from the Comté struggled in midfield, where the power of Bakayoko, and the freedom and accuracy of Golovin caused them issues.

Forced to take risks, the Nice back four played high up the pitch, and Pelmard was forced to use his pace to deny Augustin, who was through alone on goal (41’), in order to keep his side in the game. 

At the break, the task at hand was clear: Nice were going to need to raise the tempo in order to turn the game around.

It was from a set-piece that Nice got themselves back into the game, when Burner made the most of a poorly cleared corner, to smash the ball home into the back of Lecomte’s net (54'). 

Unfortunately, OGC Nice, despite the support of their 12th man who had made the trip along the coast, didn’t take advantage of this equaliser to kick on. They continued to struggle to develop their usual style as they were frustrated by the solid block they were up against. Then they were caught out. Big time.

This difficulty came to a climax when Monaco retook the lead. Slimani broke through, held on under pressure, then perfectly set-up Golovin, who was as free in his movements as he ever has been and the Russian international went on to win his battle with Benitez and secured his brace (2-1, 74'). 

This time, the die was cast. Golovin, once again, intercepted a pass from Atal, served it on a plate for Ben Yedder, and the French international brought the match to a close (3-1, 79').

Patrick Vieira’s choices

As he has done since the start of the season, Patrick Vieira set Le Gym up in a 4-3-3.

In front of Benitez, the four-man defence was made up of Burner, Pelmard, Nsoki and Sarr. The latter returning to the starting eleven for the first time since Amiens.

In midfield, Cyprien retained his role in front of the back four, with Tameze playing the right-sided box-to-box role. The coach moved Ounas back to play at 8, slightly deeper and slightly more central than usual.

Finally, up-front, Claude-Maurice started for the first time in red and black on the left of the attack. Dolberg played through the middle and Atal was on the right.

With around thirty minutes to go, Coach Vieira sent on Ganago through the middle to replace Dolberg. Boudaoui came on for Ounas, who was forced off on a stretcher, to add density and pace to the Nice midfield. 

Finally, Lees-Melou came on for Sarr in the final quarter of an hour, which saw Atal drop deeper to left back. 

The schedule for Matchday 7

The provisional league table

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