Ahead of their return to Ligue 1 action vs. Lens at the Allianz Riviera on 29 December, the Aiglons put in a solid display against Tottenham Hotspur, coming back to draw thanks to Antoine Mendy's goal (1-1).

Without Youcef Atal (twisted ankle), Andy Delort (illness), Jordan Lotomba (contusion), Marcin Bulka (shoulder), Mario Lemina (ankle), Sofiane Diop (foot) and Mattia Viti (adductor), the Niçois went into their final warm-up game of 2022 in a 3-4-3 with Pablo Rosario as the left-sided centre-back alongside Dante and JC Todibo in the back three.

Hicham Boudaoui and Khephren Thuram made up the midfield with Antoine Mendy on the right, Joe Bryan the left. Nicolas Pepe, Gaëtan Laborde and Ross Barkley were the front three.

Les Aiglons performed well, but just as they had against Atalanta, conceded the opening goal in the first half when Matt Doherty took advantage of a Mendy error to beat Kasper Schmeichel (1-0, 21').

Les Aiglons were unable to muster a serious goal threat despite their possession, and Pepe and Barkley both had promising set-piece situations that they failed to full exploit.

MENDY, 1ST SENIOR GOAL

Thuram and Gil traded chances at either end of the pitch early in the second half before Mendy struck. The 18-year-old full-back sidefooted home to level and make amends for his error for the Spurs goal.

Mendy was replaced by Beka Beka shortly after the goal, and the former Caen man slotted into the backline where he had played in his youth. Schmeichel made a fine save from Emerson and then again to deny Son and keep Le Gym in the game.

Brahimi missed the target with a good chance (77'), but Les Aiglons deservedly shared the spoils against a Spurs side that restarts its domestic league season on 26 December against Brentford, three days before Lens are the visitors to the Allianz Riviera to get the second half of Le Gym's domestic season underway.

 

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