In their final game of the season, Le Gym claimed a late share of the spoils, 2-2, away to Lille at the end of a spectacular Ligue 1 encounter. 

Despite coming into the last game of the campaign assured of finishing fifth, irrespective of the result, Francesco Farioli's side fought right to the final whistle. As they had done all season, Les Rouge et Noir gave it everything, were solid in defence, created chances in attack and did their supporters proud in a roller coaster ride of a match against Lille, which ended 2-2. Le Gym could even have taken the lead in injury time had Daouda Traoré's first ever professional goal not been ruled out for offside (90+7’).

Four days after their 2-1 home loss to Paris Saint-Germain, OGC Nice travelled to the north of France with a new-look starting XI. Without a number of players, Nice started in a 3-4-3 formation, with Tom Louchet and Antoine Mendy both in the full-back roles.

A STRONG START

Eager to end the season on a high note, Les Aiglons got off to the best possible start against a Lille side, who were themselves fighting for a ticket to next season's UEFA Champions League group stage. In control of the ball, JC Todibo and Co. were rewarded with Gaëtan Laborde's opener. After good work from Jeremie Boga, who beat Bafodé Diakité on the left, the Nice centre-forward pounced to meet his teammate’s cross at the far post and score his sixth goal of the season (0-1, 10’). 

Technically proficient, Le Gym continued to control the end of the first half, even when LOSC were in possession of the football. And they also looked more dangerous on the counter-attack, as when Boga and Alexis Claude-Maurice, went close to doubling the advantage. Nabil Bentaleb, deflected the ball towards his own goal but was saved on the line by Ismaily (31'). At the very end of the first half, Claude-Maurice had another great opportunity, but he failed to convert Khephren Thuram's good service, one-on-one with Vito Mannone (44’).

LILLE UPPED THE TEMPO 

For a long time, it looked as though Les Azuréens would live  to regret these two opportunities. Because Lille, spurred on by the home fans at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, pressed much harder after the break and eventually equalised through Hakon Haraldsson. Following a pass from Angel Gomes, the Icelandic midfielder took advantage of a moment's hesitation in Nice's defence to fire home from close range past Marcin Bułka and level the scores (1-1, 55').

Bolstered by the introduction of Terem Moffi and Jordan Lotomba, Les Rouge et Noir withstood strong pressure from the home side around the hour mark, before cracking at a set-piece. Edon Zhegrova's cross from the right found the head of Benjamin André, who gave Bulka in the Nice goal no chance (74’, 2-1).

A CRAZY FINISH

Was this a to signal a disappointing end to the match for an OGC Nice side without anything to play for? Far from it. Francesco Farioli's charges were courageous, combative and not about to give up. They should have been awarded a penalty in the 79th minute, when Gabriel Gudmundsson collided with Antoine Mendy in the penalty area, but the contact was not enough to convince the referee, Mr Delajod, despite a video review of the action. But it would take more than that the deny a stubborn Gym side. After a superb team move initiated by Hicham Boudaoui's fine pass to Tom Louchet, Les Aiglons finally equalised through Jordan Lotomba. The Swiss full-back jumped higher than anyone else to head his young teammate’s cross into the goal (2-2, 90+4’).

It set up a crazy finish, with Thuram clearing off the line (90+6’) and Daouda Traoré's goal disallowed for offside (90+7’). Coming on for Jean-Clair Todibo, the young Aiglon followed up good work from Terem Moffi and receiving the ball with his back to goal, turned and lifted the ball over Mannone. The club’s academy graduate, still just 17-years-old, will have to wait a little longer to score his first goal on the big stage.

But it wasn’t enough to take the shine off an outstanding performance by Les Rouge et Noir this evening, or this season, which ended in a fine fifth place. After long months of fighting, it is now time to rest and reflect on the great moments of a quality campaign. And we're already looking forward to the 2024-25 season, which will see Le Gym return to the UEFA Europa League...

Hugo Rondet