A goal by Houssem Aouar scored at the end of a low-level match enabled Lyon to qualify for the semi-finals of the French Cup against Marseille, whose series of invincibility started in late October ended, Wednesday 12 February, in the Rhône.
The Marseillais will have held 16 meetings in all competitions without bowing from the fall slap received against Paris SG at the Parc des Princes (4-0). Aouar, on the right side, at the edge of the offside, served by Bertrand Traoré entered at the 77e minute, managed to find the opening of a powerful shot (81) while his team was offensive offensive. It's 13e once OL reach this level of competition and the second in a row.
But Lyon still delivered a rather lackluster match against a private OM, like its opponent, of several incumbents. A performance in line with those played this season despite an upturn in early 2020.
A hypothetical European qualification
This mediocrity in the game makes hypothetical a European qualification by the championship for OL, 9e of the ranking, relegated to 16 points from Marseille (2e) and the groups of ultra supporters had, during the day, put pressure on Garcia.
Unless you succeed "Remontada" hoped for by Jean-Michel Aulas, so there remain the national cups where Olympique Lyonnais is still in the race, except if the Rhone club wins the Champions League, which still seems improbable.
OL are already in the final of the Coupe de la Ligue for which they will face Paris Saint-Germain, and there is this Coupe de France on which the Stade de France can also be considered. You will then have to take the last step, of course.
Overall, against OM which has proven to be fairly harmless, OL still deserves its qualification despite a rudimentary collective game and major technical shortcomings in all areas. In the first period, the Lyonnais could already have scored on an action led by Aouar on the right wing but whose center could not be taken over by Martin Terrier (30) who missed the takeover of a center by Kenny Tete a minute later.
After half time, a shot from Maxence Caqueret was diverted by Alvaro Gonzalez (57) before Karl Toko-Ekambi got a penalty on a diverted shot by Hiroki Sakai. However, Moussa Dembélé missed his attempt, stopped by Yohann Pelé (70). It’s the third time this season that the Lyonnais striker has failed on a penalty spot after the matches in Nantes in the Coupe de France in January and in Reims in December.
Came to 85e minute, Fernando Marçal, who scored against his side Sunday in Paris, this time saved his team from Marseille equalization by catching the ball in extremis in the feet of Marley Aké in additional time (90 + 2).
Lyon therefore joined the semi-finals, as did PSG, who won against Dijon (6-1) earlier in the evening.
