OGC Nice and Auxerre couldn't be separated in the opening match of Matchday 26 of Ligue 1 (1-1). Le Gym saw AJA open the scoring in the first half before missing a penalty and then equalising thanks to Laborde just before the break. With this draw, Nice remain in 7th in L1 with 42 points.

At kick-off, Didier Digard set up his team in a 4-3-3 with two changes to the side that started in the victory over Monaco. Pablo Rosario and Sofiane Diop replaced Youssouf Ndayishimiye (on the bench) and Aaron Ramsey (injured). 

AUXERRE OPEN THE SCORING AGAINST THE RUN OF PLAY

From the very first minutes of the game, Nice were sent warning signs that Auxerre were not going to do them any favours. Abline placed the first bit of pressure very early on, but his effort with the outside of his boot, just in front of the box, went wide (2'). After this first warning, Nice played high up the pitch, pressing the Burgundians as soon as they lost the ball. Les Aiglons then intensified their attacks on goal. After a corner from Diop, Amraoui came on strong and volleyed with his left boot, but it went wide of Radu's goal (8'). On the quarter-hour mark, Gaëtan Laborde cut into the middle and hit a left-footed shot from the edge of the area, but it flew wide of the target (15'). On the left, Sofiane Diop beat two defenders and ran into the box before seeing his right-footed shot blocked by the AJA defence (17').

Nice had control of the ball and were increasingly dangerous, getting more and more crosses into the box. Their counter-pressing was effective. Moffi harassed and pressured the Auxerre defence, allowing Thuram to win the ball back on the edge of the box. The French U21 international sent Laborde through on goal and the striker's effort was caught by Radu (22'). After the half-hour mark, Sofiane Diop, who was visibly injured when he slipped, was forced to make way for Badredrine Bounanani. Auxerre opened the scoring shortly after this change. Abline's low right-footed shot from inside the box was finished past Schmeichel on the counter-attack (0-1, 36').

… BEFORE A MISSED PENALTY AND LABORDE'S EQUALISER

After this goal, Le Gym looked to get back on the front foot, as they have done so well in recent matches. Moffi found Thuram who put on a show with his ability to break lines and his technique. Zedadka pulled the n°19's shirt in the box and Bastien Dechepy pointed to the penalty spot, a decision that was confirmed by VAR. Laborde stepped up to take it but his penalty was pushed over the bar by Radu (42’). However, this Le Gym side has character! Unfortunate just before, Laborde connected with a sublime diving header after Lotomba's cross from the right (1-1, 45+1). Laborde made it his 8th goal in Nice colours (his 7th in L1) and allowed Le Gym to head in at the break on level terms and on a par with Auxerre in the rankings.

LE GYM PUSH, BUT IN VAIN

From the start of the second half, Les Aiglons came back with the same intentions. Moffi almost doubled the lead after a perfect piece of control in the area followed by a shot that was blocked for a corner (47'). The AJA defence once again blocked a curled shot from Boudaoui for a corner (50'). The visitors were also dangerous on a few occasions, as Dembélé's attempt flew over Schmeichel's goal (58').

But Le Gym had this Auxerre side trapped in their own half and tried to take the lead. Thuram sent Boudaoui through with a wonderful back-heel and the Algerian international saw his shot deflected onto the crossbar by Radu (59'). Thuram again crossed dangerously from the left and forced Isaak Toure to tackle the ball for a corner (65'). Bouanani, who had made an interesting start, was twice in evidence, volleying a long ball from Boudaoui into the box (72') and then with a curling left-footed shot (74'), both times off target.

Didier Digard made a number of changes to freshen up his team at the end of the game. Brahimi, Barkley and Belahyane came on in place of Laborde, Rosario and Moffi. For the record, Reda Belahyane (18) was getting his first minutes in L1. In the final moments of the match, the red and black team increased the pressure in the opposing camp but faced a compact block. Brahimi's free-kick in second-half stoppage time was headed away by the opposition defence and the score remained as it was.

FOCUS TURNS TO EUROPE

Next Thursday at 6.45pm, Le Gym will play in Moldova against Sheriff Tiraspol in the Round of 16 of the Conference League. Three days later, Les Rouge et Noir will travel to the Beaujoire to take part in Matchday 27 of L1 against Nantes (Sunday 12/03 at 3pm).

THE MATCH IN PHOTOS