Mourning by the tragedy that struck its city in the morning, OGC Nice nevertheless managed, Thursday evening, October 29, to launch its European season thanks to its narrow victory against the Israelis of Hapoël Beer-Sheva (1-0 ), on Matchday 2 of Group C of the Europa League.

With now three points collected in two games, as much as his opponent in the evening, but also as Slavia Prague, his future opponent, and Bayer Leverkusen, the Riviera club has completely relaunched in the race for qualification.

After being overtaken in Germany last week, Patrick Vieira's men have therefore caught up well, in complicated circumstances and a very heavy climate.

Tribute to the victims of the attack

A long silence in homage to the three victims of the knife attack the same morning, in the city center, thus preceded the start of the meeting.

"It was a special, sad context, explained Dante, the captain of OGC Nice, at a press conference. We of course talked between us, we had already planned not to celebrate the goal too much. We are, all in the group, very touched, it hurt us. On behalf of the group, we send our condolences to the affected families. Football comes next, even if it is our job. "

Despite the circumstances and an empty stadium, a good European match was held.

And some Nice people are no strangers to it.

Such Youcef Atal, who regained his ardor and quickly demonstrated it.

Even if the Gym mastered the match, with more than 65% possession of the ball, his team was unable to destabilize their opponent.

The Algerian international therefore insisted on his side.

And when he is excellent, which is not always the case (41st and 43rd), the right side makes the difference.

Two goals in two games for Gouiri

Following his overflow, Atal therefore offered a caviar to Amine Gouiri, whose recovery of the flat of the right foot, however little supported, beat the Israeli goalkeeper Ohad Levita (1-0, 23rd).

Scorer for the second time in two European Cup matches, the ex-prodigy of the Olympique Lyonnais academy is no longer a revelation.

If Nice was superior to Beer-Sheva throughout the first period, it took one, even two hairs, for the teams to return to the locker room tied.

But each time, Walter Benitez was perfectly vigilant to keep his goal blank.

Now, the red and black, symbols of a bruised city, have the opportunity to get closer to a qualification with a double confrontation against Slavia Prague, the same opponent as 23 years ago, in the round of 16 of European Cup Winners' Cup.

In the other match which concerned a French club, Lille was held in check at home by Celtic of Glasgow (2-2), in group H.

With AFP

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