Ligue 1 McDonald's, Matchday 3, 05/09/26
OGC Nice secured their second point of the season against a battling Le Mans FC side (1-1). Olivier Pantaloni remains winless, however, after taking over in the summer.
Patrick Videira is credited with creating something special from very little. His side weren't even in the conversation for promotion at the start of last season, having only earned promotion from the National 1 the previous season. There is a clear upward direction of travel; the opposite can be said of Nice. Olivier Pantaloni's arrival was meant to bring fresh momentum, but that isn't easy when the ownership situation remains unchanged.
Club legend Dante was back at the Allianz Riviera, whilst the fans also returned for the first time this season. There was a feeling of yester-season that translated onto the pitch as Le Gym struggled to find any kind of fluency on the ball. Errors were too frequent and punished. There was a let-off when Jean Vercruysse found himself free inside the box. Youssouf Ndayishimiye made himself big and made the block. But it was the Burundi international who was left scrambling following a turnover of possession deep in the Nice half. Ndayishimiye didn't lose it, but he couldn't win it back. Adil Bourabaa danced past him and unleashed an absolute thunderbolt into the far corner of Yehvann Diouf's goal.
The game-state ensured that Nice had much of the ball but Pantaloni's men lacked penetration. Their best chance within the opening 30 minutes came from a set-piece quickly taken by Niels Nkounkou. Jonathan Clauss had all the time to pick out the unmarked Axel Witsel, who couldn't direct his header on target. A let-off for Videira's side.
#remains #PROMOTION #back #time
OGC Nice secured their second point of the season against a battling Le Mans FC side (1-1). Olivier Pantaloni remains winless, however, after taking over in the summer.
Patrick Videira is credited with creating something special from very little. His side weren't even in the conversation for promotion at the start of last season, having only earned promotion from the National 1 the previous season. There is a clear upward direction of travel; the opposite can be said of Nice. Olivier Pantaloni's arrival was meant to bring fresh momentum, but that isn't easy when the ownership situation remains unchanged.
Club legend Dante was back at the Allianz Riviera, whilst the fans also returned for the first time this season. There was a feeling of yester-season that translated onto the pitch as Le Gym struggled to find any kind of fluency on the ball. Errors were too frequent and punished. There was a let-off when Jean Vercruysse found himself free inside the box. Youssouf Ndayishimiye made himself big and made the block. But it was the Burundi international who was left scrambling following a turnover of possession deep in the Nice half. Ndayishimiye didn't lose it, but he couldn't win it back. Adil Bourabaa danced past him and unleashed an absolute thunderbolt into the far corner of Yehvann Diouf's goal.
The game-state ensured that Nice had much of the ball but Pantaloni's men lacked penetration. Their best chance within the opening 30 minutes came from a set-piece quickly taken by Niels Nkounkou. Jonathan Clauss had all the time to pick out the unmarked Axel Witsel, who couldn't direct his header on target. A let-off for Videira's side.
#remains #PROMOTION #back #time
2 months ago
