OL secured their ticket to the round of 16 of the Coupe de France by winning without being impressive against the fourth division team Entente Feignies-Aulnoye (1-2). The year 2024 is over for Les Gones.
It's hard to say that we will remember this round of 32 of the Coupe de France for a long time. But Lyon is qualified in Round of 16.
At the Hainaut stadium in Valenciennes, Saturday December 21, l’OL was almost content with the minimum against the northern players of the Feignies-Aulnoye Entente (1-2).
For the first match in the competition, Pierre Sage logically rotated his squad with eight changes.
Of the starting lineup lined up the previous week in Paris (3-1), only Moussa Niakhaté, Clinton Mata and Corentin Tolisso were still in the lineup for this last match of 2024.
The goalkeeper Remy Descampsnumber two in the hierarchy, took Lucas Perri's place. Maxence Caqueret was back to play big while Rayan Cherki started on the bench.
Time for vacation for the OL players who will return on Saturday January 4 2025 (9 p.m.) for receipt of Montpellier16th day of Ligue 1.
Benrahma scores from a free kick before the break
We thought that OL were going to return to the locker room at the break without having managed to open the score.
It was in the 44th minute that Said Benrahma took care of it with a great free kick (0-1).
Otherwise, the first period of Les Gones was rather disappointing. Proof of this is with this statistic half hour of play : no clear chance created.
It was also in the 30th minute that the Gones obtained their first corner while the fourth division players of the Entente Feignies-Aulnoy (N2) accumulated a fourth in the 41st minute.
The very hasty release of Corentin Tolisso also surprised more than one. The midfielder took his legs to return to the locker room for no apparent reason. It was replaced by Jordan Veretout in the 28th minute.
His teammate Maxence Caqueret was heavily criticized on social networks after a difficult first 45 minutes. Between ball losses and technical waste, the 24-year-old even received a yellow card.
Mikautadze to ensure qualification
As a result of his failed first period, Maxence Caqueret gave way to Rayan Cherki at the restart.
It's difficult to put into words what happened in the second half as practically nothing happened in the game.
A few minutes after the hour mark, Alexandre Lacazette was replaced by Georges Mikautadze in a part that is still very low in intensity. After this change, it is Rayan Cherki who carried the captain's armband for his very first time with the professional team in official competition.
Saïd Benrahma was close to scoring a double in the 80th minute after a good chest check. But the opposing goalkeeper intervened to prevent him. It was one of Lyon's only chances in the second half.
Just before added time, Georges Mikautadze (88') finally reassured OL supporters by doubling the lead with a cross strike after an assist from Saïd Benrahma (0-2).
The valiant players of the Entente Feignies-Aulnoye still saved the honor in added time (1-2). The end of the match rhymed with fear on the side of the Lyon surface…
