Intensity, theatre, suspense: at the end of a fascinating derby, the Gym, who were at a numerical disadvantage for 45 minutes, took home a point from Monaco (1-1). With the feeling that they could have won their game in hand from Week 17 of Ligue 1, but also that they could well have lost it…

The features

The first half an hour was tactical and tight, with both sides trying to win the battle of the midfield. The area that was always going to be the key to this game. From the very get go, Walter Benitez was called into action and pulled off a magnificent save to deny Golovin, after a long ball from Serrano was smartly dealt with by Sylla, and then served up to the Russian on a plate.

After that, the Gym wouldn’t be troubled by a shot from Lopes which flew over after Dante had lost the ball in midfield, and then the visitors began to take control of the game. Putting their foot on the ball, they looked for the breakthrough using the wings and focusing on the impact of Saint-Maximin. They found the opener thanks to their top scorer (see below), then began to walk over their opponents in the fifteen minutes that followed. Unfortunately, the half came to a close with the (unfair) sending off of Ihsan Sacko. The forward was punished for dangerous play on Henrichs. A particularly debatable decision, taken with the assistance of VAR. A decision with heavy consequences, given that the Gym were then forced to defend for the large part of the second half. Monaco equalised quickly (50'), the Aiglons sat back slightly and suffered for 20 minutes.

Serrano missed a header from close range (70'). Benitez caught a strike from Golovin (71'). The Nice squad put all of their energy into maintaining the draw, led by an exemplary Dante and an impeccable Benitez, and were hoping for their “chance”. The chance would present itself with just 15 minutes left on the clock, when Youcef Atal ate up the space in front of him and was knocked off balance in the Monaco box. Saint-Maximin took the ball and struck his penalty the same way as he had done at the weekend, but his strike was turned away by Benaglio (75'). After that, the derby was set on fire for ten minutes. Falcao tried his luck, but Benitez was there to turn it onto the post (83'), the Gym loosened their grip.

In the end, neither side would come out on top of a dogged encounter.

The choices

For this derby, Patrick Vieira decided to return to his 3-5-2, one week after beating Bordeaux in a 4-3-3. Christophe Jallet replaced Christophe Hérelle (suspended) in the defensive trio, alongside Dante and Malang Sarr. Youcef Atal took up his place on the right and Patrick Burner on the left.

In the middle, Rémi Walter played alongside Wylan Cyprien. Adrien Tameze started just slightly further forward, even though the former Valenciennois often found himself in the heart of the pitch to involve himself in the battle. Ihsan Sacko was playing on the left of the attack, leaving Allan Saint-Maximin, who put in another excellent performance, through the middle. Not one Niçois was left wanting, each and every one of them showed seriousness and bravery. Walter Benitez was magnificent, and the whole squad exemplary in their defensive work. Up front, ASM made the difference in the first half, but suffered as he was isolated in the second.

After the break, the Gym (understandably) switched to a 5-3-1, with the number 7 up-front on his own. With ten minutes to go, Danilo replaced Rémi Walter. Finally, JV Makengo came on for Saint-Maximin at the end of the game, to keep the scores as they were.

The goals 

30’ It was written in the stars that the difference would be made in the middle. And the difference was indeed made. After some good pressing from the Aiglons, Tameze blocked a pass from Aït-Bennasser, and it just so happened played in Saint-Maximin.

The Gym’s missile took care of the rest, like a pro. He first moved Jemerson, proving that a derby is won through desire; then finished with a smart strike and a calm head. The perfect finish for a confident forward. His 5th of the season for the Gym.

50' From a corner at the start of the second half, Badiashile climbed the highest in the box and buried a powerful header. Walter Benitez parried the strike, but the referee (helped by his video assistants) announced that the ball had crossed the line.

The man of the match: Technology

Just this once, the man of the evening is invisible. Doesn’t have a heart, doesn’t have a body. The man of the match is the person who analyses the encounter in slow motion and takes to pieces, and delivers some decisions that at times are difficult to see with the human eye. The man of the match is therefore technology. After thirty minutes, Mr. Bastien called on the VAR for Allan Saint-Maximin’s goal, and gave it two times. Just before the break, it deemed Ihsan Sacko’s yellow card to be a red, and changed the game. The technology, once again, was called into action for the Monaco equaliser. A decision too far for the Red and Blacks, you may have thought, until the 75th minute. When Youcef Atal destroyed the Monaco defence and won a penalty, which after several replays, once again left people both for and against. A penalty that was missed by Allan Saint-Maximin, or more accurately saved by Benaglio. 

C.D.

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