OGC Nice lost 4-1 at Lazio on Thursday on Matchday 2 of the league phase of the Europa League. Jeremie Boga scored the only goal of the game for Les Aiglons.

The Roman sky did Le Gym no favours. Franck Haise's men travelled to the Italian capital to take on Lazio on Thursday and came up against two difficult opponents: an experienced Lazio side who were effective and hard to beat. But they also had to contend with driving rain, which only increased in intensity as the game wore on, to the point where the pitch was virtually unplayable for the final half-hour.

With the Aiglons already trailing by three goals, their resolve was dampened by the disastrous conditions and the impossibility of making the slightest pass on the ground, so waterlogged was the pitch at the Stadio Olimpico. However, the Rouge et Noir did not travel to the home of one of last season's Champions League last 16 teams without good intentions.

A VERY EFFICIENT LAZIO

A week after drawing 1-1 with Real Sociedad in their Europa League opener, OGC Nice took to the pitch in their traditional 3-4-3 formation in Italy, with an attack led by Badredine Bouanani, Youssoufa Moukoko and Jeremie Boga. The Aiglons were looking to play from the outset but found themselves up against a Lazio side that was physically superior. Marcin Bułka was quickly called into action and twice received a helping hand from his goalposts. Firstly, his right-hand post to keep out ‘Taty’ Castellanos' powerful header (12'). Then his crossbar, after Matias Vecino's long-range effort was deflected by Youssouf Ndayishimiye (14').

The deadlock was eventually broken after Jonathan Clauss cleared off the line from a corner. Alone on the right-hand side of the box, veteran Spaniard Pedro made no mistake with a rocket into the top corner (1-0, 20'). Far from being discouraged, the Rouge et Noir put their foot on the ball, pushing the home side back before creating their first opportunity of the game through Badredine Bouanani, whose low shot failed to deceive Christos Mandas, the opposing keeper (30'). The Aiglons were then punished for the second time whilst enjoying a good spell, experiencing the harsh reality of European football. Finding himself between the lines, Pedro managed to set up Castellanos in the Nice area despite Youssouf's touch. The Roman striker coolly slotted the ball past Bułka (2-0, 35').

BOGA RESTORES THE FLAME

Pushed on by the 803 away fans, who were very vocal despite the rainy conditions and the way the game was going, the Côte d'Azur side fought back to reduce the deficit just before half-time after a fine one-two between Boga and Moukoko, which was well rounded off by the Côte d'Ivoire international to score his first goal of the season (2-1, 41').

But Nice's joy was short lived. Boosted by the introduction of Nicolo Rovella and Mattia Zaccagni, two players who had been left on the bench at the start of the game, Lazio put the pressure firmly on Le Gym by breaking the deadlock again after the interval. Castellanos, whose movement was causing all kinds of problems, was played through by Rovella. The Uruguayan beat Pablo Rosario and slotted it past Bułka with his right foot (3-1, 53'). Things got even worse when the Stadio Olimpico side were awarded a harsh penalty, Castellanos, again, going down following contact with Bułka in the box. Despite the intervention of VAR, nothing could stop Zaccagni from firing an unstoppable spot-kick past the Polish keeper (4-1, 67').

FOCUS TURNS TO PARIS

Franck Haise's troops remained resolute despite the scenario and the torrential downpour, and could have made the scoreline look a little less bleak had Mandas not made a save from Evann Guessand, who had just come on as a substitute (72'), and then from Youssoufa Moukoko, who volleyed over from close range (79').

After a difficult evening, Le Gym are provisionally 26th in the Europa League table, with one point to their name. The Rouge et Noir will have to pick themselves up and win at Ferencvaros after the break on 24 October. Prior to that, Nice face a visit from Paris Saint-Germain at the Allianz Riviera on Sunday.

Hugo Rondet