Nice 2-0 Valenciennes

By: Martha | September 1st, 2008

Nice 2-0 Valenciennes
Buts: Bamogo (52è), Rémy (85è) pour Nice
Expulsion: Tiéné (31è) à Valenciennes

Nice: Letizi – Diakité, Apam, Kanté (Cid, 84è), Jeunechamp – Echouafni (c), Faé, Hellebuyck – Traoré (Ben Saada, 26è), Rémy, Bamogo (Modeste, 76è)

Valenciennes: Penneteau – Ducourtioux, Bisevac, Rafael (c), Tiéné – Saez, Sanchez, Mater (M. Traoré, 46è), Danic (Bangoura, 60è) – Audel, Pujol (Sebo, 80è)

[Post-match interviews here.]

* * *

Everyone acknowledges that Valenciennes were poor, even before they went down to 10 men, but that doesn’t do anything to take the shine off the three points, or the spot near the top of the table. Alright, so there was a missed PK and some wasteful attacks, but the team are playing with urgency and confidence, and getting points in spite of their own screw ups.

As always, Antonetti’s keeping his wits about him and refusing to get overly excited, but Captain Chouf and Bamogo — who finally got his goal — were thrilled with both the result and the nine points from a possible 12 in the month. No matter the quality of the opponents, this August has been a great launching pad for the trip to Lyon after the international break — no one could have asked for anything more than to be within a point of the top going into that match. (A match which it’s actually going to be possible to see, for once. Huzzah!)

In terms of individual performances, Hellebuyck recovered from a couple quiet weeks to be the unanimous MOTM — he hit the post twice and was a lively presence in the midfield. Ben Saada made his return from injury (coming on for an injured Traoré, which is no good at all) and was impressive, as well — he assisted on Bamogo’s goal and is once again being optimistically seen as the eventual replacement for Ederson in the middle of the pitch. And, finally, Letizi wasn’t scary, Apam made his return from the Olympics and was his usual, rock-like self, and Rémy, despite missing a PK, was one again good.

As players trickle back in, the team really seems to be coming together. If all goes well they’ll get the last piece (Cyril #1) back for Week 5, and can make a good accounting of themselves in Lyon.

* * *

In other news:

•Yahia is heading to Lens today for a year-long loan with the option to buy; quite understandably, he’d rather go to Lens and help them return to L1 than sit on the bench week-in and week-out in Nice. Hopefully this won’t come to bite Nice in the ass if there are injury problems, and Cid or Gace is forced into the back.

•Baky is a hero in Marseille. *sniffle*

•The video section of the official website is getting all fancy, with schedules and everything. Coming up this week are an interview with Chouf, the usual behind-the-scenes look at last weekend’s match, and a visit to training.

[Photo by LSN]