The Gym put in a disciplined and polished performance to round off their second week of European football with another win (0-3), just three days after getting the better of Beer-Sheva in the Europa League (1-0). Rony Lopes, Pierre Lees-Melou and Hicham Boudaoui were all on the scoresheet as the OGC Nice moved up a place in the Ligue 1 standings to fourth.

The Aiglons started the game with plenty of grit and determination at the stade Raymond Kopa. Facing an Angers side brimming with confidence after an impressive win away at Rennes in their previous game (1-2), nevertheless the Niçois started on the front foot. Looking livelier than their opponents, the Gym looked dangerous every time they went forward. An initial Dante pass was blocked by Thomas’ hand, but a few moments later the Brazilian captain played the ball to Rony Lopes. The Portuguese controlled with his chest before finishing powerfully with the outside of his left foot. (0-1, 12’). It was  Lopes’s first goal for the Rouge et Noir.

By the 23rd minute, the Aiglons had doubled their lead. After being released in behind the defence by Lees-Melou, Reine-Adélaïde was clattered by goalkeeper Bernardoni and earned himself a penalty - after VAR had looked at it – on his first start for the Gym. “PLM” tucked the spot kick away by wrongfooting the goalkeeper to notch his second of the season after previously scoring against Saint-Etienne (Matchday 7, 1-3).

Despite captain Dante having to be stretchered of after landing awkwardly following an aerial dual (55’, replaced by Flavius Daniliuc), the Aiglons backline held firm all the way through a second half in which both teams were mostly reduced to long range efforts. In the 77th minute, the Rouge et Noir attacked down the left-hand side. Kamara’s cross was pushed away by Bernardoni, but only as far as Gouiri, whose header beat the keeper and was poked home by the Algerian international Boudaoui. (0-3,77’) This strike settled the game and gave the Gym a second consecutive away win, and their fifth of the season in Ligue 1.

There’s another week in Europe up next for the Rouge et Noir, who play away at Slavia Prague on Thursday 5 November in the Europa League (6:55pm CET), before the derby game against Monaco Sunday 9 November at the Allianz Riviera (5pm CET).

THE MATCH IN PICTURES :

Rony Lopes gets there before Romain Thomas

Morgan Schneiderlin

Dante beats Vincent Manceau in the air

This was Jeff Reine-Adélaïde’s first start for Nice

Amine Gouiri 

Jeff Reine-Adélaïde wins a penalty after being clattered by Paul Bernardoni

Pierre Lees-Melou wrongfoots the goalkeeper

It’s a second goal this season for the Gym midfielder

​Amine Gouiri is denied by Bernardoni in the second half

Just ten minutes after coming on, Hicham Boudaoui scores the Aiglons’ third (77')

Photos : J-M.P.

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