After a cruel match - and a catastrophic two-minute period - the Gym fell at home to Salzburg in their Europa League Matchday 4 clash.

In Europe, nothing is free and mistakes aren't easily forgiven. In fact, even the smallest errors are punished. Before kick-off in this fourth Group I Matchday, the Gym were in a tight spot and they needed to lay down the law at home to keep their hopes alive. But they couldn't do it, and even though qualification is not mathematically impossible - Schalke's 2-0 win over Krasnodar saw them through to the next round - Nice will now have to pull off two huge performances in order to make it into the last 16.

The battle was intense right from kick-off. High impact. Pressing vs pressing, you could say of the game globally, as both teams were at each other's throats from the off. What followed was a high-intensity game with crunching tackles but few scoring chances. In this chess match, the first false move would bring the team undone. Unfortunately, that move was made by the Rouge et Noir.

Set up in a 4-3-3 with a very active Vincent Koziello back in the centre of midfield, the home side started solidly and pulled together, individuals stepping up when the team stumbled. Dante's huge clearance avoided a perilous situation (20'), Koziello's leg blocked Gulbrandsen's effort (22') and Cardinale's impressive dive to deny Dabbur kept the locals afloat (40').

In attack, the Gym showed some spark but faced stiff opposition from their opponents, who dug in and fought in an effective, vertical 4-4-2 formation. Ratkowski, a left-footed operating on the right, proved a real handful and Salzburg's efficiency up front was boosted when substitute Hwuan joined him with half an hour to go.

Mario Balotelli, an anchor point up front for Nice, cut in from the left and tried his luck from distance on two occasions, but posed no problems for Walke (20', 37'). Wylan Cyprien met Seri's corner at the near post but couldn't get his header on target (39'), but these half-chances only served to emphasise how tense the match was.

Cruel scenario 

Given this situation, it seemed that a solution would only come with a bang. And when it arrived, it lasted for two minutes and was, unfortunately, Austrian. Nice made the running early in the second half, however, with Belhanda working hard to keep Nice's game ticking over. He couldn't quite manage to make the break, however, his attacking duties undermined by the need keep an eye on Salzburg's quick counter-attacks. A tough balance to find. Super Mario launched a missile of a free-kick on the hour-mark but the visiting 'keeper claimed without issue. Salzburg then responded with a set piece of their own, Ratkowski's curling free-kick testing Cardinale, who managed to tip it onto the bar (62').

A the clock ticked down, the tension grew. The Gym were on a knife edge but, finally, they fell. Hwang was the punisher, coming off the bench to strike two times in as many minutes (72', 73'). The first was an unbeatable header, the second a deft volley after a good first touch.

Shattered, Lucien Favre's men never recovered, the entry into play of Eysseric, Walter and Donis changing nothing. And nor did Mario's free-kick ten minutes from time.

So, the Gym fell for a second time at home in the Europa League, with a ton of regrets and the overwhelming obligation to produce two stellar performances - and results - to have a hope of continuing their European adventure.

C.D.

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