Beginning on 26 July at the Allianz Riviera against Ajax, the 2017-18 season for the Aiglons will come to close on Saturday in Lyon. The battle against Olympique Lyonnais will be the 53rd official match of the season for OGC Nice, who never before played as many games in one season. 

1959-60: Europe helps

In the 114 years of its history, the Gym have only reached 50 official matches on three occasions. The first time, during the season which followed its most recent championship title (in 1959-60).

On top of the 38 league games, Vic Nurenberg and his teammates added two quarter finals: in the Coupe de France and the Cup Winners’ Cup. 

Before falling to defeat against Real Madrid (3-2 ; 0-4), the Niçois had eliminated Shamrock Rovers of Dublin (3-2 ; 1-1) before defeating Fenerbahçe in a match played on neutral ground (2-1 ; 1-2 ; 1-5 pens), which brought their total to 52 games*.

* including 2 in the Coupe Drago and 1 in the Friendly Franco-Italien Cup.

1997-98: D2 at 22, and Europe again  

It would then be a wait of three decades to see OGC Nice hit fifty games again in one season. And then again... during the 1986-87 season, the squad managed by Jean Sérafin saw the figure (38 league games, 3 in the Coupe de France) boosted by its involvement in the predecessor of the Coupe de la Ligue (6 games in the “Summer Cup”) and in the Coupe des Alpes (3 matches).

It’s in 1997-98 that the Red and Blacks played, for the second time in its history, more than 50 official games (51). There once again, it was a post-trophy season, meaning that they qualified for Europe. After the Coupe de France win, Bruno Valencony’s side battled against Kilmarnock (3-1 ; 1-1) and Slavia Prague (2-2 ; 1-1) in the Cup Winners’ Cup, at the same time as playing 42 games in a D2 with 22 clubs, and also 5 games in the domestic cups (3 in CDF, 1 in CDL and the Champions Trophy).

2017-18: 10 months for a record  

20 years later, the Gym prepare to bring an end to its fullest season in its history. On Saturday against Lyon, Lucien Favre’s side will end on 53 matches after 38 league games, 12 in Europe (Champions League qualifying then the Champions League play-offs, and group and Round of 32 of Europa League), 2 in the Coupe de la Ligue, and 1 in the Coupe de France.

F.H. (source : Michel Oreggia)

---