Newly-promoted Angers maintain unbeaten start with Nice draw

Newly-promoted Angers have preserved their unbeaten start to the Ligue 1 season after being held to a 1-1 draw with Nice at Stade Jean Bouin tonight.

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The hosts, who have won two and drawn one of their first three top-flight outings, opened the scoring on 24 minutes when Thomas Mangani's free kick beat Mouez Hassan.

Falling behind served to spark Nice into life, and Jean Seri fired over, before Alassane Plea was denied by Ludovic Butelle as Angers reached half time with their lead intact.

The visitors continued their assault after the break and Butelle twice denied Plea in quick succession in what shaped up to be a fascinating personal duel.

Butelle was finally beaten on 56 minutes when Hatem Ben Arfa's cross was headed home by Valere Germain to waste the hosts' good work.

Their momentum faltered after finding the equaliser and Angers finished the clash on top, with Goran Karanovic and Cheikh Ndoye both going close but the shares were spoiled.