This Saturday, the Gym faced OM at the Vélodrome Stadium, as part of the 4th matchday of the 2024/25 Ligue 1 season. After a frustrating derby, the Aiglons were defeated (2-0) despite a decent performance.
Derby day for OGC Nice! The Niçois had a major away challenge: Olympique de Marseille. In a sold-out Vélodrome, the Aiglons aimed to make a big impact and continue their positive momentum. Dante and his teammates were coming off a victory in Angers (1-4) before the break.
For this match, Franck Haise made a few changes to his starting eleven. At the back, Mohamed Abdelmonem joined the three-man defense in place of Moïse Bombito, who was suspended. Youssouf Ndayishimiye, Pablo Rosario, and Jérémie Boga also returned to the starting lineup for Nice.
A closed first act
OGC Nice started this match cautiously. Well-organized, the Niçois system did not hesitate to capitalize on counter-attacking opportunities. The first half was primarily a tactical battle between the two coaches, Franck Haise and Roberto de Zerbi. The first major chance for Nice came from Melvin Bard.
On a cross from Mohamed-Ali Cho, the full-back’s volley struck the post of the Marseille goal. But the Aiglons conceded the opening goal from a largely avoidable situation (1-0). Unchallenged, Neal Maupay easily headed the ball to beat Marcin Bulka. The Niçois returned to the locker room with regrets.
The Aiglons punished
Franck Haise’s players returned with better intentions, putting pressure on their opponent. The Gym lacked precision needed to equalize. Ineffectiveness cost the Niçois, as they were punished by an opponent’s collective move, finished by Luis Henrique (0-2). With their backs against the wall, Jérémie Boga and his teammates tried to get back into the game. However, technical errors were still too frequent, especially in the opponent’s half.
Youssoufa Moukoko and Ali Abdi made their first appearances in Nice colors at the end of the match. After a clash with the Tunisian full-back, the Gym should have been awarded a penalty. The referee of the match did not revisit the incident. With a numerical advantage, the Niçois launched an assault on the Marseille goal. Badredine Bouanani also found the post, but the score remained unchanged, and the Aiglons ultimately fell on their rival’s pitch. Franck Haise’s men can have regrets after a good performance marked by a significant lack of efficiency.
Next match is Friday, September 20th, for OGC Nice. The Gym will host Saint-Étienne as part of the 5th matchday of the Ligue 1 2024/25 season. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:45 PM.