In the third match of their pre-season, Le Gym lost 2-0 away to Braga. New signings Morgan Sanson and Jérémie Boga played their first minutes for the Red and Black.

With two weeks to go before the start of the new season against Lille, Francesco Farioli's men were beaten 2-0 by SC Braga in Portugal on Saturday evening in an evenly-matched encounter. However, against a side more advanced in their preparations, Les Aiglons started strongly. Bolstered by the presence of two new recruits, Morgan Sanson and Jérémie Boga, who arrived on the Côte d'Azur this week, Les Niçois dominated possession from the outset, as they had done in their first two friendlies. Short passes from Kasper Schmeichel, build-up play from their own area... Le Gym continued to repeat the principles of their new Italian coach and could have opened the scoring on two occasions.

First, a minute after the quarter-hour mark, Morgan Sanson's half-volley, who was well found by Melvin Bard in the box, came close to hitting Matheus' post. Then, two minutes later, Laborde's shot was saved by the keeper after being  found in behind by Thuram.

AIGLONS PUNISHED BY BRAGA'S PRECISION

But little by little, Braga, who will play in the 3rd preliminary round of the Champions League in a week and a half, managed to get on the ball and look dangerous. Schmeichel saved from Abel Ruiz (38'), but could do nothing about Ricardo Horta's superb effort from a corner (39').

Punished by the Portuguese precision, Dante and Co regained control at the start of the second half, buoyed by a lively and dangerous Jérémie Boga on the left wing, but were unable to create as many chances as they had at the start of the game. The two best chances of the second half fell to Terem Moffi. The Super Eagle first sent a powerful first-time shot narrowly wide of the far post (52'), then won his duel with Fonte before being denied by the keeper (67').

The pace of the game slowed from the 70th minute onwards, and the match ended with a second goal for the Portuguese, scored by Castro. The veteran Braga player took advantage of a high clearance to slot home past Schmeichel (2-0, 77').

The next and final stage of the Gym's preparations will take place in Newcastle next weekend, where they take on Villarreal on Saturday 5 August (1.30pm) and Fiorentina on Sunday (2pm).

 

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Hugo Rondet