A week after its inaugural success against Lens (2-1), Nice won (2-0) Saturday in Strasbourg thanks to a double from the Danish Kasper Dolberg and temporarily seized the head of Ligue 1. Redoubtably effective if not brilliant, the French Riviera team, which has strengthened itself this summer, especially in view of the Europa League which it will play from October, has confirmed that it should fight for European places this season.
After Amine Gouiri, still precious on Saturday, during the first day, it was Dolberg who, this time, scored a double (37th sp, 59th) to lead the Aiglons to victory.
“The team is progressing, it's encouraging for the future. Defensively, we were solid. We showed good collective control, ”said Nice coach Patrick Vieira. As during the defeat in Lorient (3-1) last weekend, Racing made serious defensive errors and was punished by his opponent. With zero points on the clock, the Strasbourg people will have to react on the next day, in two weeks in Saint-Etienne.
Mistakes of "under 13"
“We didn't play a good game offensively and defensively, we made mistakes that under-13s shouldn't make. We are in a bad period ”railed the Alsatian technician Thierry Laurey. Despite the absence of the kop, who preferred to desert Meinau because of the capacity limited to 5,000 people by the government following the Covid-19 pandemic, the atmosphere was nevertheless very good in the Strasbourg den.
The prefect of Bas-Rhin and the Grand Est region, who had rejected the RCSA's request for exemption to increase the tonnage to some 11,000 spectators, came to ensure that the distancing measures and barrier gestures were respected, perhaps be in the perspective of reviewing its position for the next home Racing match.
At the start of the match, Nice confiscated the ball but without succeeding in being dangerous while Strasbourg created situations on set pieces, such as this free kick from Kenny Lala which fell just behind the Nice crossbar (25th ). Despite a very difficult first period, marked in particular by six warnings against them, the Aiglons took advantage of an Alsatian error to take the lead on the penalty spot.
After a bad recovery from Lionel Carole followed by poor control from Lamine Koné, the Strasbourg captain mowed down Eddy Sylvestre in the box and allowed Dolberg to score his first goal of the season (0-1, 37). On the restart, Strasbourg again pushed to find the flaw, but lacked precision, like a unscrewed volley from Majeed Waris (54th) or a header from Ludovic Ajorque just above ( 57e).
As in the first period, the RCSA was punished by the OGCN for a new defensive error: Gouiri recovered the ball in the feet of Lala and his opening for Dolberg, deflected by an Alsatian, was masterfully concluded by the Dane of a small stung ball (0-2, 59th).
- RC Strasbourg
- League 1
- OGC Nice
- Soccer
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