OGC Nice saved a draw at the end of an encounter with a very resourceful Toulouse side (1-1) in the L1 opener. Le Gym's new recruit, Aaron Ramsey, found the back of the net in the dying stages of the game and allowed Les Aiglons to pick up their first point of the season.

On Sunday 7 August, OGC Nice were playing their first Ligue 1 match of the 2022-2023 season in Toulouse under blazing sunshine. Against the newly promoted side, Les Niçois picked up a draw at the end of the encounter, thanks to a goal from new recruit Aaron Ramsey's first touch. At kick-off, another new recruit Alexis Beka Beka started in Lucien Favre's midfield, as the coach celebrated his 100th match in the dugout for Le Gym. Bulka, Lotomba, Todibo, Dante (cap.), Bard, Rosario, Beka Beka, Thuram, Stengs, Delort and Gouiri made up the Nice starting eleven, set-up in a 4-3-3.

DALLINGA SURPRISES LE GYM, STENGS HITS THE BAR

Les Aiglons created the first chance of the match just moments after the start of the game. Well found by Thuram, Amine Gouiri shot with his right foot from the centre of the pitch, but pulled his shoot too far and missed Dupé's goal. Put on alert by the early chance, Les Toulousains then looked to impose their own game plan and put Le Gym under pressure with a high press and playing down the wings. After the first fifteen minutes which had been rather dominated by Le Gym, the Violets took it upon themselves to set the tone. 

Played onside by Lotomba, Dallinga wasn't offside and was through on goal on his own. Marcin Bulka came out to narrow the angle and the forward's effort hit the post. It was to be the Dutchman that would soon make the difference. From close range, Dallinga got the better of Dante in order to flick home a ball into the box from Van Den Boomen to open the scoring for Les Violets (1-0, 20’). Two minutes later, Dallinga, once again, came close to getting his brace, but an impressive Todibo wasn't about to let that happen. Ngoumou crossed to the back post after beating Bulka, but Todibo prevented the only Toulouse signing that started the match from doubling their lead, as he headed the ball away for a corner.

At the end of the first half, Les Rouge et Noir began to attack more quickly and looked more dangerous in front of goal. From a superb pass from Thuram which broke the lines, Calvin Stengs cut back to beat a defender in the box before letting rip with a powerful strike against the bar. Headers from Amine Gouiri and Andy Delort also weren't enough to allow Le Gym to get back onto level terms before the break.

TRADEMARK RAMSEY

After half-time, Les Aiglons continued to face an impressive home side. Desler's shot was turned away for a corner by Todibo and Rouault's header was easily dealt with by Bulka. But Les Niçois continued to try to push forward. Beka Beka won a good free-kick on the edge of the box. Delort took responsibility for the set-piece, but his low effort was pulled too far wide. On the hour mark, some smart link-up play between Thuram and Gouiri saw the latter try his luck with his right foot from inside the box, but Dupé got down well to deal with it. Lucien Favre proceeded to make several changes at the end of the second half to bring fresh legs and impact. Lemina, Ilie, Brahimi and Ramsey all got the call from the bench. With his first touch of the match, Ramsey demonstrated the extent of his talent.

Brahimi accelerated down the right, beating several defenders, before pulling the ball back to the edge of the box. On the end of it, the Welshman, unmarked, struck with the inside of his right foot and equalised for Nice (1-1, 79’). Talent, character and efficiency. In the final minutes of the game, Nice put the home side under pressure as they tried to find the winner. Dupé saved Toulouse in the final seconds of the match as he turned away Lemina's header after an inch-perfect cross from Thuram. The two sides left the field with a point each, after a match where Les Aiglons demonstrated real character.

L1 BACK AT THE ALLIANZ RIVIERA

Next Sunday, Les Niçois will have the chance to react at the Allianz Riviera with the visit of Strasbourg, who lost against Monaco yesterday (1-2). We look forward to seeing lots of you there to cheer on Les Aiglons for this first L1 home match this season!