Nice (AFP)

Once again beaten by Slavia Prague (3-1 after the 3-2 of the first leg), Nice was almost eliminated from the Europa League, after this 4th day of group C.

To qualify, Nice, three points on the clock, will now have to perform a miracle.

On the next day, Patrick Vieira's team will have to beat Bayer Leverkusen by a better score than the loss conceded in the first leg in Germany (6-2!).

Then, for the final meeting, it will be necessary to win against the Israeli club Beer-Sheva and hope that Leverkusen tilts against Slavia Prague ...

But this scenario is unlikely.

Because the Gym does not seem absolutely in a state to achieve this type of feat!

Currently, all his opponents dominate him.

After the first leg in Prague, fourteen members of the professional group were affected by Covid-19.

And if Vieira assured that it was not necessary to evoke a possible physical deficit, his men were not up to this level.

But not only ...

If Nice had not played in competition for 18 days, if Kasper Dolberg had to withdraw, if the neo-captain, Pierre Lees-Melou, was left on the bench, the Côte d'Azur team was beaten by stronger than her.

Once again in the European Cup, the Gym got off to a bad start.

At this level, it is not forgiving.

After two conceded corners, some defensive largesse and an uncontrolled Nice clearance, Czech midfielder Ondrej Lingr mystified everyone with a long shot from outside the right in the top corner of Walter Benitez (0-1, 15th).

In order to stay alive in the competition, Vieira's men spent the first half chasing after the score.

In vain...

- Third consecutive defeat -

Served by Myziane Maolida, Alexis Claude-Maurice did find the post (20th), but this is the only time the Czech defense was faulted before the break.

Worse, the Nigerian striker from Prague, Peter Olayinka, could have doubled the bet but he was too out of the way to score after passing Benitez (23rd).

Then, Jordan Lotomba made a high-flying defense in front of Jan Kuchta (40th).

Admittedly, after the break, the Aiglons pushed.

After a strike from Jeff Reine-Adélaïde deflected by goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar on his right post (48th), they were even rewarded: Youcef Atal beat the goalkeeper and his strike on the post was taken by Amine Gouiri, for his 4th European goal of the season (1-1, 61st).

But it was written that Nice was fragile.

Too weak.

Slavia went around for the first time: Benitez was huge on the head of Oleyinka (62nd).

Two minutes later, on a corner, he had to bow to the Nigerian and his victorious header (1-2, 64th).

The hopes of Nice lived three minutes ... The Rouge et Noir could not return.

And the goal of Abdallah Sima (1-3, 75th), ideally served by Tomas Holes, rewarded the best team.

Nice thus continues a third consecutive defeat and will have to react on Sunday, again at home but in the league this time, against Dijon, last in Ligue 1.

© 2020 AFP