The Aiglons beat Troyes on Sunday after a sublime first hour of play and a tricky last half-hour. The result was an open and enjoyable encounter (MD10, 3-2). It's the first time they've won at the Allianz Riviera in the league and the second in a row.

What is the feeling after this thrilling, entertaining and dramatic game between Nice and Troyes? First of all, satisfaction. The one that comes from a first home win in Ligue 1, which allows the Rouge et Noir to look forward. Also the sense of happiness, because the Gym were fantastic for an hour, this Sunday on a rainy day. Then finally the bitterness, because of a tense end to the match when a comfortable victory seemed to be in the offing...

Playing in a 3-4-3 formation, with Viti in the centre alongside Todibo and Dante, Bryan on the left flank and a duo of Pepe and Diop to support Delort, who was back in the starting line-up, the Aiglons dominated the first half easily. A domination that was quickly materialised by Mattia Viti's opening goal, with a brilliant header at the near post, after a good ball from Sofiane Diop (1-0, 2'). After this ideal start, the rouge et noir machine was in motion. They had everything they needed, including clear-cut chances. Nicolas Pepe missed two one-on-one situations with Gallon (10', 34'), but he never gave up. The Ivorian international won a penalty before the break, after Mario Lemina had pressed hard inside Troyes' 20-yard box.

Andy Delort converted the resulting penalty and gave himself a nice present on his 31st birthday (2-0, 37'). Nicolas Pepe, who was exemplary in his commitment and constantly on the move, never gave up. The Ivorian international who scored against Slovácko on Thursday, beat Gallon with three touches of the ball after the interval: touch, acceleration and a right-footed shot under the keeper (3-0, 50'). The goal suggested that the afternoon was about to be an easy for Gym, who went backwards and started to try and manage the game. But it wasn’t to be.

LABORDE HITS THE BAR, CHAVALERIN REVITALISES THE MATCH

Gaëtan Laborde came on for Andy Delort and had the 4-0 lead at his feet, but his powerful shot from 20 metres out crashed against the bar (75'). A stroke of luck that Troyes took full advantage of, in the wake of the offensive coaching by Bruno Irles, who introduced Rony Lopes (an attacking midfielder) in place of Erik-Rose Palmer Brown (central defender) and changed his 5-3-2 into a 4-4-2 with two strikers (Ugbo - Balde) and a stronger left flank (Balde - Yade). Favre brought on Laborde, but also Barkley, Rosario and Bard in the last half hour, while Lotomba had replaced Atal prematurely in the first half, without ever touching his formation.

In the last quarter of an hour, logically, OGC Nice retreated more and more, leaving possession to the fresher visitors. Schmeichel made a good save in the first half from Kouamé's shot (33'), and again from Yade's effort (64') in the second half, and apart from these two attempts, the team was never worried... until the 83rd minute. That's when Chavalerin, the substitute, hit a shot from 25 metres out. The ball deflected off the back of Dante, and caught the Danish international goalkeeper off guard (3-1'). The team stayed in the game until Conte's overlapping run, which the Portuguese coolly finished after Ugbo's good delivery (3-2, 90'). The two Troyes goals left the Aiglons and their supporters tense, but they were finally able to breathe a sigh of relief when Mr Hamel blew the final whistle.

The Gym did the work, with style for a long period, then with some difficulties. But the Gym secured the most important thing: 3 points which allow them to catch up their opponents on the day and to start a positive run. They will have to continue this run on Thursday, when they face FC Slovácko (MD4 of the Conference League, kick-off at 21:00).

THE MATCH IN PICTURES