Ten-man Troyes held on to register a opening day draw against Ligue 1 rivals Nice at the Stade du Ray on Saturday.

After an even opening to the match it was Nice that took the lead thanks to a superb right-foot free-kick from their Tahitian star Marama Vahirua.

The impressive Vahirua’s shot cured over the wall and crashed past Troyes ‘keeper Ronan Le Crom with the aid of the underside of the crossbar.

The woodwork came Le Crom’s rescue just minutes later as a Vahirua cross was headed goalward by new signing Mamadou Bagayoko.

After the break the promoted side fought back and were rewarded with an equaliser when captain Karl Tourenne crossed at the second attempt for Sébastien Dallet to head home past Damien Grégorini.

Nice pressed for a winner and twice found the woodwork through Sébastien Roudet and livewire Bakary Koné but, Troyes held on for a draw, despite losing Tourenne to a second bookable offence late on.

Nice: Grégorini - Varrault (cap), S. Traoré, An. Yahia, Tchato - Vahirua (Bigné 62), Balmont, Bisconti, Roudet - Koné, Bagayoko

Troyes: Le Crom - Montero, Boucansaud, Kouassi, Guillaume - Nivet, Tourenne (cap), Amzine, Matuidi (Enza-Yamissi 76) - Dallet (Danic 90), Nadé (Grax 46)

Ref: A. Hamer