With the win over AC Ajaccio (3-0) on Friday evening at the Allianz Riviera in the opening match of Matchday 23, Les Aiglons continue to pick up points. This was their fourth consecutive win in Ligue 1. 

After a dream week and three victories over teams at the top of the table (Lille, Lens and Marseille), Le Gym were back at the Allianz Riviera to take on AC Ajaccio, who are fighting for their top-flight survival. A bitter battle was promised, in the cold of the Plaine du Var. Dante warmed up the atmosphere after 3 minutes, with a perfect half-volley (1-0, 3'). Brilliantly set-up by Bouanani - who picked up his 3rd assist in 4 L1 matches - the Capitao scored his 7th goal in 229 games in red and black, and his first since Nantes in October 2020. 

Following the opener, Nice brought the ball down and began to move it around but didn't create any clear-cut chances in the first 45 minutes, aside from a cross from Bouanani that was deflected by Alphonse and then bounced off the bar on two occasions. Set-up in their 4-3-3 with Mendy on the right of the defence, Boudaoui in front of the back four and Bouanani on the right wing and Moffi playing his first match at the Allianz Riviera as an Aiglon, they confiscated the ball from the visitors but came up against a tight unit that was difficult to play around. 

SUBSTITUTIONS PAY OFF, BRAHIMI ON FIRE

ACA raised the temperature of the game as the minutes went by. They came close to putting Kasper Schmeichel's goal under pressure (two off-target headers from El Idirissy and Alphonse at the end of the first half), and paradoxically were caught out during their strongest period in the game, at the start of the second half. As the visitors pushed, Didier Digard made a triple sub, sending on Ndayishimiye, Diop and Brahimi to replace Boudaoui, Thuram and Bouanani.

His changes proved to be a stroke of genius. After three minutes on the pitch, Sofiane Diop broke into the box and found Brahimi, whose marvellous strike flew into the back of Leroy's net (2-0, 69’). On fire after his goal at the Vélodrome, the forward brought pace and impact to Le Gym. 

Schmeichel made the two stops that he needed to in the second half of the match. The first from a strike from Nouri in the 54th minute and the second from an effort from Levine in the closing moments of the match, which the Dane turned away with his foot with real authority (86’). With the two-goal lead in the bag, the Allianz Riviera could breathe. Then exploded into joy in the 90th minute, when Brahimi got his brace with an incredible strike. After powering home his first effort of the evening, as the n°14 curled the ball into the back of the net with his left boot from the angle of the box. His third goal in two matches, and his fourth for Le Gym. A splendid goal to secure a fourth win in as many matches. 

Ahead of the remaining matches from Matchday 23, Le Gym have 37 points on the board and provisionally climb to 7th place, focused on the teams ahead of them.

Next up: the visit of Reims on Saturday 18 February at 5pm (M24).