The sweet scent of Europe that emanated from the Allianz Riviera for the first time in a year and a half and the trauma of Basel, quickly gave way to a smell of embers. Already because the smoke bombs of the Populaire Sud and their “Game of Thrones” inspired tifo announced that this meeting was going to smell of gunpowder. And the 5 yellow cards distributed can only attest to this.
But above all, events quickly took a bitter turn when Rosario was surprised by the Basque pressure. Pierced by Brais Mendez, as often at the start of the match, the Gym midfielder offered Real Sociedad’s first goal in September on a plate. Barrenetxea’s first this season too (18th). Dangerous on the counterattack, the Spaniards really thought they had made the break at the
half an hour of play. That was without counting on the heroic return of Clauss in front of Oyarzabal, forgotten on the opposite side.
Quite nervous, like Bounani who was upset with the refereeing, the Gym gradually let loose, captivated by the continental scents that suit them so well. By exploiting the slightest Basque error in their recovery to their advantage, the Niçois gained confidence. And it was also on a bad clearance from the Spanish rearguard that Rosario scored his second goal in less than a week, he who was also at the origin of the
good move from the Côte d’Azur (45th).
A deserved equaliser for the Niçois who were attractive when they knew how to press high up. And who could have even hoped for better in this game, if Moukoko had not been too short on his teammates’ crosses, nor too imprecise after a festival from Guessand (4th).
It is precisely the Nice centre forward who will be able to have the most regrets. Author of a good performance full of anger, his picture is tarnished by his missed penalty (55th), which could have given the advantage to the Gym. More enterprising than the players of San Sebastian, the Azuréens saw their chance of success evaporate at the same time as the attempts of Youssouf (82nd) and Orakpo (85th), vectors of sacred shivers.
Niçois and Basques leave on a parity score (1-1), for the return of European music to the Allianz Riviera, and of the sponsor “Le point Rose”, present on the Gym jersey on European Cup evenings. An association moreover freshly sponsored by Dante. It remains a good point taken against a big piece, which nevertheless leaves a taste of unfinished business.
