As in the first match, the Niçois and Brest played out a goalless draw at Francis-Le Blé on Sunday. After a balanced game, Les Aiglons retained their second place in Ligue 1.

Even if the scoreline (0-0) doesn't suggest so, it was an eventful afternoon at Francis-Le Blé. In a top-of-the-table clash between second-placed Nice and third-placed Stade Brestois, the two sides engaged in a constant battle. Pressure, intensity, duels... the pace never dropped for a second on Sunday in Finistère. Lining up in a 3-4-1-2 formation with Morgan Sanson supporting Gaëtan Laborde and Evann Guessand, Francesco Farioli's men initially surprised their opponents with this new system.

AN EFFICIENT NEW SYSTEM

The Red and Blacks were technically very good at getting the ball out in the face of pressure from Brest, and they were dangerous early on, with Jordan Lotomba not quite accurate enough to get on the end of Sanson's good cross (2'). It was the same story a few moments later, with Laborde playing a superb supporting role to find Guessand in behind. The Aiglon of the Month got past Lilian Brassier, but the latter did well to block the striker's effort, which went narrowly wide of Marco Bizot's post (9').

The hosts were initially troubled by Sanson's positioning between the lines, but eventually responded around the half-hour mark. Led by the ever-present Pierre Lees-Melou in midfield, the home side had the best chance of the opening period, Hugo Magnetti's first-time shot from the edge of the area. Despite a tricky rebound, Marcin Bułka did his best to push the ball away, but it fell to Martin Satriano, whose shot flew just over (36').

A HARD-FOUGHT SECOND HALF

The two sides went into the break level, but did not let up in the second half. Constantly looking for a way out in the face of Breton pressure, Les Aiglons failed to make the most of their build-up play, as in the case of the superb one-touch move initiated by Hicham Boudaoui, back in the starting eleven, and Jordan Lotomba. Laborde found himself on the left side of the box, but was thwarted by the returning Chardonnet (54'). Then Guessand's header lacked the power to trouble Bizot after Thuram had crossed well (55').

But unbeaten in 10 Ligue 1 games prior to tonight's encounter, Eric Roy's men did justice to their status as one of the league's form teams. Having only been beaten once at their home ground this season (against Paris), they pushed forward in the final half-hour, boosted by a great atmosphere. Satriano's header (63') and Lees-Melou's long-range efforts (60', 73') both missed the target.

ROSIER'S DEBUT

After weathering the storm in Brittany and suffering a few scares at the back, the Rouge et Noir came back strongly at the end of the game, led by the freshness of Mohamed-Ali Cho and Valentin Rosier, who was playing his first minutes for Nice. Like Les Aiglons, Brest fought hard to block every shot, first from Thuram and Todibo (88') and then from Youssouf (89').

As in the first game (M7, 0-0), the battle between Nice and Brest ended in a fair draw, allowing the Azuréens to hold on to second place and maintain their three-point lead over SB29 ahead of a pivotal week. This Wednesday (8.30pm), Dante and Co travel to Montpellier for a Coupe de France Round of 16 tie before hosting AS Monaco (Sunday 11 February, 8.45pm). New battles will be fought.

Hugo Rondet