Le Gym returned to Europa League action at the BayArena on Thursday against Bayer Leverkusen. Facing a side used to playing on the European scene, Les Aiglons fell to a heavy defeat in their first match of the group stage (6-2).

Experience, rhythm and aggressiveness, the ingredients needed to shine in Europe are well known and Le Gym, who had four starters playing their first minutes at the level, paid the price on the pitch of the BayArena.

Against a more experienced side, Les Aiglons were also up against a cold and rainy evening. The German side had more bite and were more incisive than their visitors and the hosts had already built a two goal lead after just 15 minutes. In the 11th minute, Nadiem Amiri beat Dante to get through one-on-one with Benitez and he left the Argentinian stopper with absolutely no chance with a shot across goal (1-0, 11’). After the German international, it was Lucas Alario’s turn to find the back of the Nice net. From a tight angle out wide, the Argentine powerfully buried the ball into Benitez’s goal (2-0, 16’).

Despite the early blow, Les Azuréens reacted quickly. Playing higher up the pitch, finding greater accuracy in their passing and being more solid across the field, Patrick Vieira’s side pulled one back thanks to Amine Gouiri. Nsoki, on his return to the side, intercepted well, before finding the forward whose shot from the edge of the box flew past a helpless Hradecky (2-1, 31’).

The visitors controlled the ball and made chances. Kamara found the side netting (40’) and then Gouiri was denied by the Finnish keeper (54'). But the Europa League can be cruel and errors prove costly. On the edge of the Nice box, Moussa Diaby pressed Schneiderlin after Bénitez had gone short, and got the third goal (3-1, 61'). 20 minutes later, Les Aiglons conceded a fourth and fifth goal, from two very similar scenarios, with Bellarabi striking from distance after two corners (4-1, 79'; 5-1, 83'). In the closing stages of the game, Wirtz scored a sixth goal for the home side (6-1, 87') before Alexis Claude-Maurice pulled one back when he turned home from the heart of the box (6-2, 90').

The next European test for Le Gym will see them face Hapoël Beer-Sheva next Thursday (9pm), the side that beat Slavia this evening (3-1). Before that, Le Gym will face Lille in L1 on Sunday (Allianz Riviera, Matchday 8, 5pm).

The match in images:

Photos : Y.F.

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