Prague (AFP)

Without his emblematic captain, Dante, 37, seriously injured Sunday in Angers, Nice, disappointing, was unable to avoid defeat in Prague (3-2), against a Slavia yet diminished by five absences due to Covid-19, on Matchday 3 of Group C of the Europa League.

Despite a good Amine Gouiri, Nice, too far from the commitment imposed by a European Cup match, slowly gave up to leave the victory to Slavia Prague who, with six points, went to the top of the group in the company of the Germans from Bayer Leverkusen.

With three small points, Gym remains last in the group and will have to win in three weeks in the return match against these same Czechs, under penalty of elimination.

Like the French teams engaged in the Champions League on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nice first lost mentally and can harbor regrets.

We should not only point the finger at his young defense, orphan of Dante.

Because from Morgan Schneiderlin to Kasper Dolberg, passing by Rony Lopes, all have been very far from excellence.

It is with a formation arranged in 3-4-3 as usual, and a central defense of barely 20 years of average age (Flavius ​​Danilius, 19, Robson Bambu, 22, and Andy Pelmard , 20 years old), which Patrick Vieira therefore decided to start.

"It is difficult to replace Dante, underlined the Nice coach before the match. Each player must do a little more to fill this gap. I have no doubt. Other characters will be expressed."

However, despite a very good first quarter of an hour, including a missed opportunity by disappointing Dolberg (7th), the Aiglons lost their footing from the first opposing attack.

After a long ball from a block, Jan Kuchta played Daniliuc then Bambu before scoring (1-0, 16th).

- Failed second half -

Despite this twist of fate, the Vieira team managed to keep its principles: high pressure from the opponent, speed in recovery and collective play assumed.

Logically, the Gym then returned: recovery of the neo-captain Pierre Lees-Melou who, very quickly, gave to Amine Gouiri.

At the end of a one-two with Rony Lopes, the former Lyonnais scored his third European goal in three matches (1-1, 33rd).

But the excitement of Nice is visible.

Mostly on set pieces.

Moreover, on the only opposing corner, goalkeeper Walter Benitez did not win.

The young Senegalese Abdallah Sima, 19, smashed his head to allow his team to return to the locker room leader (2-1, 43rd).

This goal, just before the break, cut the legs of the Niçois, whose second period was close to nothing, like the third goal conceded.

After Kuchta's double (3-1, 71st), Vieira's men still had time to come back.

But it was not until the last second that the newcomer, Dan Ndoye did not reduce the mark (3-2, 90th + 3).

Slavia, which has not lost at home for more than a year, thus maintains its invincibility.

And Nice, which receives Monaco on Sunday in the Côte d'Azur derby, will have to react quickly.

© 2020 AFP