For this last match of the 1st day of Ligue 1 this Sunday, OGC Nice hosted the Racing Club de Lens at the Allianz Riviera behind closed doors. For this first at home, the Aiglons could count on his new recruits. Thus, Patrick Vieira opted for a 4-3-3 with the tenures of Lotomba, Bambu, Kamara, Schneiderlin and Amine Gouiri, Rony Lopes started the meeting on the bench. On the Blood and Gold side, Franck Haise aligned a 3-5-2 and notably started with Kakuta and Ganago.
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The match started badly for the Gym with a hand from Dante in the box following a cross from Ganago (8th). After consulting the VAR, the referee indicated the penalty spot for Lens. Gaël Kakuta did not tremble and changed the sentence (0-1, 11th). The Blood and Gold clearly disturbed the Eaglets in the first half hour. On a counter-attack, Kakuta shifted Sotoca to the right which centered for Ganago at six meters whose attempt passed above (20th).
OGC Nice relies on Gouiri
But on his first chance of the match, Nice equalized. Although offset by Lees-Melou, Kamara found Gouiri on the edge of the surface. The former Lyonnais controlled and released a curled shot which lodged in the top corner of Leca (1-1, 23rd). Eight minutes later, Patrick Vieira’s men had to deal with the premature exit of Bambu on injury (31st). Upon returning from the locker room, the Gym still had difficulty imposing its law in the game, well hampered by the good pressing Lensois and by a block positioned high on the meadow.
The Sang et Or even failed to regain the advantage after the hour mark. On the right Michelin found Banza in the box which stumbled on Benitez well out (69th). A turning point in this match as Nice regained the advantage six minutes later. Medina lost the ball near the surface, Lees-Melou took advantage and served Gouiri whose curled shot adjusted Leca (2-1, 75 ‘). Far from abdicating, Racing reacted with Corentin Jean whose strike was well captured by Benitez (80th) then by a header from Badé deflected for a corner by the Nice porter (90th). Thanks to a double from Amine Gouiri, OGC Nice started its season well against a northerner formation which could harbor some regrets.
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