Schmeichel makes his Nice debut in Strasbourg
THE GAME
With Marcin Bulka injured, coach Lucien Favre had an easy decision to hand over the hugely experienced Denmark international, who watched last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Toulouse from the bench, on his debut for his new club.
However, it was his Strasbourg counterpart Matz Sels who first attracted attention by deflecting a shot from Khephren Thuram (10′) before Schmeichel made his first save in French football: Kévin Gameiro was well played by Jean -Eudes Ahoulou, but the Nice goalkeeper quickly closed the angle to block (15′).
Nice had won five of their last seven home games, losing just once, but they were on the back foot for much of the 90 minutes against a Strasbourg side clearly determined to make up for their 2-1 home defeat against the Côte d’Azur of their hosts. ‘Voisins d’Azur, Monaco, during the first leg.
Schmeichel brilliantly fended off the close range volley from Alexander Djiku (23′) before Nice won in the course of the game. Gerzino Nyamsi brought down Amine Gouiri and Andy Delort pierced the free kick to open his account for the 2022/23 campaign (35th).
Sels then fended off an attempt from Calvin Stengs (42nd) before Strasbourg reversed the dynamics of the match after the break – Schmeichel once again coming to the rescue to repel the shot from Habib Diallo (47th).
But he couldn’t do anything as Strasbourg, who won 3-0 at Nice last season, got the equalizer they deserved. Adrien Thomasson’s through pass was perfect for Gameiro, who stood up to Jordan Lotomba and crushed Schmeichel’s advance (56th).
The arrival of Aaron Ramsey, author of the Nice equalizer on his debut after leaving the bench last weekend, would perhaps have allowed the locals to win after playing Youcef Atal, but the shot of the he Algerian international was parried by Sels (84th) to win Julien Stéphan’s men a deserved point.
THE PLAYER: Kasper Schmeichel
After 11 years and nearly 300 Premier League appearances for Leicester, the new Nice goalkeeper had to take effect. He certainly did in his first 90 minutes, making some big saves to prevent his club’s first game of the season at the Allianz Riviera from falling flat.
THE STAT: 2
Nice have won just two of their last 10 Ligue 1 Uber Eats games against Strasbourg.
Earlier on Sunday, Clermont bounced back from their opener defeat in style by winning 4-2 at Reims with Komnen Andric scoring twice to score his first goals for his new club. Pascal Gastien’s men showed great resilience after trailing 2-0 at the break in Champagne country and made full use of the extra man they enjoyed for most of the second half following the red card of Emmanuel Agbadou (47th). Auxerre found themselves kicking as they gave up the 2-0 lead they had built at the start of their first home game in the top flight in a decade, with Angers coming back to earn a point during the 599th Ligue 1 Uber Eats match at the Stade de l’Abbé Deschamps.
Toulouse were impressive in their 1-1 draw at home to Nice last Sunday, and seven days later Philippe Montanier’s men were impressive again as Ligue 2 champions BKT claimed the first victory in championship of their return to the top flight. Ajaccio’s first top-flight home game in eight years ended with a point as they held Lens to a goalless draw in front of a sold-out crowd at the Stade Francois Coty to open their account for the campaign 2022/23.
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