The history of the Ligue 1 will remember that the Nice-Marseille meeting was interrupted for 12 minutes to silence the songs of fans Nice in homophobic character.
The history of the season, it may be remembered, that it is in the hostile atmosphere of the Allianz Riviera, where his supporters had been banned from traveling, that the OM of Andre Villas-Boas is revealed. And that a team is born.
A bit like it was the case here two seasons, when the formation of Rudi Garcia had, in this same stadium, raised a 0-2 to win 4-2 (8th day, 1 October 2017) and afford an epic until the Europa League final. This time, OM won 2-1, without having cracked in adversity, with a big Steve Mandanda. And two attackers-scorers are Dario Benedetto (31) and Dimitri Payet (73rd on penalty).
12 minutes of interruption. In an atmosphere already electric before the meeting, as in the crowd bath held in front of the People's Tribune South by Robert Ratcliffe, representative of the group Ineos new owner of the OGC Nice, the atmosphere has quickly degenerated among the ultras Nice. Homophobic songs, anti-Marseillais insulting songs and tendentious banners, very provocative against the LFP, followed one another until referee Clément Turpin interrupted the game for 12 minutes (28th).
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Before that, the Gym, then carried away by his enthusiasm and his youth had jostled the OM with a missile of Wylan Cyprien passed by little (9th). But even with movement, you have to fit. But Nice never did it before the break.
After this stop, Patrick Vieira's men had a hard time getting back in the game. Unlike Marseille. Accustomed to this type of atmosphere with Boca Juniors, striker Benedetto has regained his instincts. Served by Morgan Sanson, he launched Bouna Sarr in depth, before returning to a magnificent volley victorious against the center, countered by the latter (1-0, 31st).
Payet launches the Marseilles season. Marseille even had the opportunity to double the bet before half-time. But Walter Benitez made the good parade in front of Sanson (45 + 4). The second period was more balanced. Benedetto missed a volley (57th). Then, the stadium, calmed by the incidents of the first period, woke up for the return of Youcef Atal. At the entrance the Algerian asked for a very good Mandanda (62nd). The Allianz Riviera exulted even, when Jordan Amavi unbalanced Ignatius Ganago (64th): penalty converted by Cyprien (66th).
But OM has shown a real collective strength and maturity. Nice 19-year-old Andy Pelmard hung Valère Germain's foot, which had just come into play, in his own area.
Verdict without appeal: Payet, in front of the Popular South Nice, transformed the sanction and launched the season of the OM (2-1, 73e). That of Nice, it is suspended at the end of the transfer window ...
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