Andy Delort’s return to La Mosson has not been easy. The Nice striker was heckled by his former public, just like the Gym team, on Saturday March 12. But Christophe Galtier’s men held firm in Montpellier (0-0), during the 28th day of Ligue 1.
A week after bringing down the Parisian leader, Nice has not shown the same mastery outside of its bases. But the result could have been much worse than that draw. After Dante’s expulsion for a foul in the penalty area, Savanier redacted his penalty in the 39th minute with a poorly controlled panenka.
No winner between @MontpellierHSC and the@ogcnice ❌ Les Aiglons take a good point away, 10 against 11
Back to this #MHSCOGCN https://t.co/YmvwxC2ptj pic.twitter.com/AjUDLy8fG1
— Ligue 1 Uber Eats (@Ligue1UberEats) March 12, 2022
Some will consider that this failure of the maestro pailladin responds to a form of justice. The fault of the Nice defender (excluded for the second time in a row on the move) on Elye Wahi, for a snagged arm, was not obvious. It involved four long minutes of palaver and hesitation. VAR and French arbitration will still be talked about after this episode.
3 – Téji Savanier has not converted 3 of his last 4 penalties taken in Ligue 1, having converted each of his first 8 in the top flight. Panenka. #MHSCOGCN pic.twitter.com/bkvGu8VCJn
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) March 12, 2022
This controversial situation is all the more damaging as the show was on the agenda with enterprising Montpellier residents despite the downpours that fell continuously on the Hérault city. Olivier Dall’Oglio’s squad kept pushing the Aiglons back, multiplying their strikes and crosses (22 and 50 respectively!). But Benitez was vigilant when he was not replaced by his post on an attempt by Valère Germain (52′).
Nice had also touched the amount in the third minute by the ghost Andy Delort, booed all afternoon by his former supporters who still have not digested his departure at the start of the season to the club from the Côte d’Azur. The attempt by the centre-forward remained as the main attempt of the visitors, not unhappy to leave Montpellier with a point without having framed the slightest shot of the match. However, Le Gym puts its second place in danger, with a three-point lead over Marseille, which plays Sunday evening in Brest (8:45 p.m.).