TOPS
There are goals that feel good. That of Youcef Atal was necessary to unlock OGC Nice. Absolute dominators in the first half, Francesco Farioli’s men seemed disturbed in front of goal, as if they did not want to win, almost doomed to concede a fourth draw in as many games. Until the brilliant inspiration of the Algerian side. Well served by Dante, the 27-year-old right defender headed in the direction of goal before unleashing a perfect curling shot to open the scoring before the break. As a symbol, his entire bench rose to exult, as if this inspiration had just launched the Aiglons season in earnest.
True boss of the Nice rearguard, Jean-Clair Todibo reassured everyone. Precise in the recovery and even decisive passer on his second goal (74th), the former Barça player signed a capital performance in front of his audience. When Strasbourg decided to attack or press, Vieira’s men fell on Todibo. Strong, clever and fast, everything smiled on him this afternoon. And since happiness never comes alone, with Konaté’s recent package, the 23-year-old central defender will put his qualities to the benefit of the Blues to perhaps win in the jersey of the selection.
FLOPS
It will take time to make Habib Diallo forget. In this kind of scenario, the Senegalese center forward was there to unlock his team. However, the 28-year-old striker joined Al-Shabab in Saudi Arabia for 18 million euros this summer, leaving the Alsatians orphaned by a goal machine always on the lookout. It was Emanuel Emegha, his appointed successor, who was lined up against the eagles. Scorer against Toulouse last week, the Dutchman arrived confident. But the former Sturm Graz player struggled to make himself available and missed the few opportunities he was able to create. Not strong enough to resist Dante and not fast enough to pass Todibo, the 20-year-old striker was like his training, sterile in front of the cages.
Unlike his opponents Dante and Todibo, Abakar Sylla did not reassure his goalkeeper. Already well occupied by the Nice offensives, Sels also had to manage the gaps of his 20-year-old defender. The Ivorian made two beautiful dumplings in quick succession (11th) and almost gave Laborde a goal with a header (36th). The most expensive rookie of RC Strasbourg (20 million) does not make a start to the season free from reproach, against Monaco he had already been very limited when the game accelerated. On the goal of Moffi (75th), the former player of Bruges is overtaken.
