A penalty from Nicolas Pepe in injury time earned the Gym a point against FC Nantes on Sunday (1-1).

"When you can't win you have to be able to not lose." It's a phrase that has been said by all coaches, no matter how old they are, and it's always true, and it was true again on Sunday. It was a Sunday in which the Nice supporters suffered until the end without ever giving up, just like their Aiglons on the pitch. This collective state of mind finally paid off, in a tough match. In fact, for once, we'll start with this 94th minute when reporting on this 12th matchday. It was a foul won by Hicham Boudaoui almost on the halfway line. Kasper Schmeichel ran off his line to take the free-kick, followed by Dante and Todibo sprinting into the Nantes area. There were only a handful of seconds left and Gym went for it. It was a winning bet. The Danish goalkeeper's long pass was met by Dante, who got into a duel with Castelletto, who deflected the ball with his hand in his own area, and Mr Letexier awarded the Gym a penalty.

Nicolas Pepe, who was unselfish and extremely active, took responsibility. He opened his left foot to give the team a point. A just reward for the group and for the n°29, who hit the post in the first half and never stopped believing, to finally score his 4th goal in 13 games.

A STORY OF POSTS AND HANDBALLS

How can we sum up the match before this "grinta" that served as an epilogue? First of all, by explaining that when the Canaries opened the score in the 49th minute, they put a doubt in the mind of the Gym. After a lightning transition initiated by Merlin in his 20-yard box, Blas sent Simon down the left flank, who crossed perfectly for Ganago in the box. The former Aiglon scored his third goal for the Canaries and celebrated by raising his arms, as if to apologise with humility. From the hour mark, Lucian Favre changed his initial 3-5-2 into an attacking 4-4-2, with Bard and Atal (who replaced the injured Lotomba at the end of the first half) as full-backs, Boudaoui and Brahimi higher up, and Ramsey in midfield. This evolution offered two huge chances to the Azureans, both to Laborde. But the former Rennes man was denied both times by Lafont (78'). The first after a good ball from Brahimi, the second after a beautiful pass from Dante, a master in the air.

But apart from these two opportunities, it was Nantes who looked more dangerous in the second half. They were sharper and more solid in the duels. But football remains what it is, and when Sissoko missed the chance on the break (80'), by concluding a new fast attack with his left foot, we rightly thought that our luck might be changing.

The first half, since there was one, appeared more balanced. Nantes dominated the first 20 minutes, with Schmeichel turning away a dangerous Moutoussamy shot (6'), at his near post. The FCN also thought they had a penalty, when Blas' header was deflected by both hands of Viti, but from close range, and M.Letexier let the game continue (22'). Nice took control of the second half of the first half, had a few chances - the biggest of which was when Pepe hit the post (25').

It is now time for the Conference League, with the crucial reception of Partizan Belgrade (MD5) this Thursday. Kick-off is at 18:45.