Hungry at the idea of recovering – even temporarily – the throne of leader, Lyon made short work of Strasbourg, Saturday February 6 during the 24e Ligue 1 day, by winning 3-0 at home. The competitors of OL (52 pts) for the podium, Lille (51 pts) and Paris Saint-Germain (48 pts) play Sunday in Nantes and Marseille.
The last two sluggish successes of the Lyonnais against Bordeaux (2-1) and Dijon (1-0), credited the thesis of a team in search of a second wind, after a first part of the season in cannonball. In 90 minutes under control, OL swept aside the doubts about his game, to remind that there was still a serious candidate for the title.
“We had a very good game. I enjoyed watching my team play ”, relished coach Rudi Garcia.
The midfielder Adrien Thomasson greatly facilitated the task of the Rhone for being excluded following a fault committed on Thiago Mendes in the central circle after having contested the warning which had been inflicted on him, from the 14the minute. This action symbolized the nervousness with which Racing, which has not won any of its last four matches (2 draws) and 15e in the standings, the meeting began.
Depay light the fire
It was the Dutch striker Memphis Depay, well launched by Houssem Aouar, who put OL on the path to success by winning his duel with goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima in the 20e minute (1-0). Later, after half-time, it was also brought the score to 3-0 by transforming a direct free kick, lodged in the top corner (68e), only flash of a rather dull second period. OL had not scored on a direct free kick since February 27, 2019.
Memphis ineffective in front of the cage since early January, scored his twelfth and thirteenth goals of the season, 67 with Olympique Lyonnais where he has been playing since January 2017, exceeding the total of Karim Benzema (66) and equaling that of Angel Rambert (1960-1970).
The second Lyon goal was scored within half an hour of play by Karl Toko Ekambi, alerted by Thiago Mendes who preceded the intervention of Alexander Djiku and Kawashima to score his eleventh goal of the season (2-0).
Lyon, with its typical team at kick-off, and only during the first period, regained the quality of play and the fluidity of its offensive animation of the autumn which it had lost since the beginning of the year except against Saint-Etienne routed while the Greens were very weak. On the other hand, the start of the second half, before coach Rudi Garcia made changes with the entries of Islam Slimani, Rayan Cherki and Djamel Benlamri (71), was quite tasteless, even at eleven against ten.
But mathematically, the account is there with this series of four victories which reinforces OL’s claims to regain the Champions League and keeps it in the race for the title.
Rennes at slow motion, Lorient at full speed
Lyon’s health contrasts with the performance of Rennes, unable to pack the meeting in Lens (0-0), in the rain. The Bretons (5e, 38 pts), who have taken only two points in their last three matches, will have to whip to the end to find Europe.
Without a triple save by Rennes goalkeeper Alfred Gomis (5e), the surprisingly promoted Lensois might have obtained better. But three days after having recovered two goals against Marseille (2-2), Franck Haise’s players are content with this draw which places them provisionally at 6e place (36 pts, ahead of Metz.
At the bottom of the table, Lorient continues its spectacular recovery. While they had won only two meetings between October and the end of January, the Merlus have chained three victories in ten days to leave their place of play-off in Nantes, with 3 points ahead.
After Dijon (3-2) and Paris SG (3-2), it was Reims who lost on Saturday (1-0). Midfielder Laurent Abergel, already decisive against PSG, scored the winning goal (52e) with a beautiful rolled shot of 25 meters.
“This series is very important, it allows us to pick up the teams who play maintenance. Today, Lorient is a winning team ”, rejoiced the Morbihan coach Christophe Pélissier.
