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Brest 2-0 Nice
Let down by their start, Le Gym fall to defeat in Brest
On Wednesday, OGC Nice fell to defeat at Brest on Matchday 18 of L1 (2-0).
In this first match of 2021, Les Aiglons fell back into the bad habits that tarnished the end of 2020. Despite a decent first ten minutes and a committed debut from William Saliba at the heart of the defence, they dropped off bit by bit in the first 45 minutes of the encounter, looking nervous and making errors across the pitch. Their decline in the first half, despite a much better second period, proved fatal for Adrian Ursea’s side.
Reputed for their ability to get the ball down and play at home (where they have already beaten Monaco, Lille and Saint-Etienne among others this season), Les Brestois were agressive and attacked with force throughout the first half. This approach allowed them to take a two goal lead into the dressing room at the break, before carefully managing things in the second period, attacking only on the counter.
The goals? In the 23rd minute, Atal lost the ball in the heart of the Nice half. Thanks to a vertical pass, Faivre picked up the ball on the right. The former Monaco man curled the ball at goal with his left and Benitez parried. Mounié (deemed not offside by VAR) reacted the quickest in the box and tapped the ball home (1-0, 23’).
In the 28th minute, Lotomba played the ball back to Benitez. Honorat read the pass, intercepted and then beat Benitez to double the home side’s lead (2-0, 28’).
During the second half, Le Gym never stopped pushing. Despite chances from Schneiderlin and Gouiri, they looked more dangerous when an extremely active Ndoye came on off the bench. The Swiss forward tried his luck on two occasions, but the Brest keeper was there to deny. Set up by Reine-Adelaïde, Gouiri also lost a one-on-one with Larsonneur as the match entered its final quarter of an hour (check out all of the chances from the match here).
With their attacking intentions, Les Aiglons exposed themselves to counter-attacks, but no goal would be scored in the second half of the match.
Next up for Le Gym: a trip to Metz on Saturday (Matchday 19, kick-off at 9pm).
The match in photos
Brest, Stade Francis-Le Blé,
Stade Brestois 29 2-0 OGC Nice (2-0 at half-time)
Matchday 18 of L1 - 06/01/2021
Behind closed doors
Referee: Jérémy Stinat
Goals: Mounié (23'), Honorat (28') for Brest
Yellow cards: Honorat (52'), Lasne (71') for Brest / Saliba (11'), Gouiri (63'), Mahou (90') for Nice
Stade Brestois 29: Larsonneur - Pierre-Gabriel (Duverne 80'), Herelle, Chardonnet, Perraud - Honorat (Philippoteaux 87'), Lasne, Belkebla (cap), Faivre (Magnetti 89') - Mounié (Battocchio 80'), Cardona (Charbonnier 80').
OGC Nice: Benitez - Daniliuc, Saliba, Nsoki - Atal (Kamara 57'), Boudaoui (Ndoye 69'), Schneiderlin (cap) (Thuram 78'), Lotomba (Mahou 78') - Lopes (Claude-Maurice 57'), Gouiri, Reine-Adelaïde.
