In the first match of their pre-season preparations, OGC Nice lost 3-1 to Lausanne Sport. Sofiane Diop was Nice's only goal scorer.

After two weeks of intense training, Les Aiglons played and lost (3-1) their first friendly in Switzerland against Lausanne-Sport on Friday afternoon. For his first game as head coach of the Red and Blacks, Francesco Farioli opted for a 4-3-3 formation, with Bouanani, Moffi and Laborde in attack and J-C Todibo at the back, wearing the captain's armband.

LE GYM PUNISHED IN TRANSITION

Despite some good sequences, highlighted by a number of short passes from Marcin Bulka, the Red and Blacks were unable to pose any real threat in the first half and were exposed by the rapid transitions of an LS side who were playing their final friendly before the start of their league campaign against Young Boys next Sunday. Kaly Sene got the game going, running in behind and hitting Bulka's bar before being flagged for offside (13').

The Aiglons were then punished by a goal from Aliou Baldé (14'). The right-winger beat Melvin Bard before slotting past the keeper from the edge of the area. Todibo and his team-mates conceded a second goal four minutes later after losing possession 25 metres from Marcin Bulka's goal. On the edge of the area, Olivier Custudio found the net with a swivel and left-foot shot.

Obviously suffering from a lack of physical presence, the Niçois struggled, despite the form of Hicham Boudaoui, who was always showing for the ball and ready when it was lost. The Swiss took advantage of a period of high pressure to score a third goal, Sene finding himself unmarked in the box from a corner (25').

SOFIANE DIOP SHINES

But Le Gym raised their game in a second half that began with 7 changes (see match sheet). Among the newcomers, Dante made his presence felt and Sofiane Diop was particularly impressive, scoring a sumptuous direct free-kick (53') from the left of the opposition box.

Accompanied by Alexis Claude-Maurice, who was popping up between the lines, the attacking midfielder did not stop there, and could have scored a second moments later with a shot that went narrowly wide of Thomas Castella's post (56'). On the hour mark, the Red and Blacks had another glorious chance when Evann Guessand was sent clear by ACM, but the Gym No9 found the Swiss keeper's gloves.

The match then lost momentum, despite Jordan Lotomba, Issiaga Camara and Daouda Traoré coming on for the final half-hour. Francesco Farioli's side next face Montpellier on Saturday 22 July (kick-off 11am).

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