Identical score, but diametrically opposite satisfaction. The travels of the two French clubs on behalf of the 2e day of the Europa League, Thursday October 3, reserved different fates for Olympique Lyonnais (OL) and OGC Nice.
While in the sometimes torrential and unexpected rain of Rome, the Niçois drowned against an impressively efficient Lazio, OL, with a full-throttle attack, easily made the disappointing Rangers fold in Glasgow, granting a second victory in two matches in the competition.
Lyon coach Pierre Sage, in difficulty after a sluggish start to the season, found in Scotland the benchmark victory he was looking for, the third in a row after those against Olympiakos (2-0) in the Europa League, and Toulouse ( 2-1) in Ligue 1. “It can be a match that leaves a lasting impression, that marks the group”he hoped, after this convincing success. In any case, OL showed on Thursday “his ability to be decisive in important moments of the match”.
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In Scotland, his team resisted the pressure put on by the « Gers » and their supporters at the start of the match, then to injuries having forced Nemanja Matic (back) then Clinton Mata (thigh) to leave their place before half-time.
Lacazette finally opens his counter
If OL took advantage of the opponent’s lack of skill, they above all produced an accomplished collective performance, from start to finish, carried by an offensive trident with sharp claws. Captain Alexandre Lacazette opened his goal counter this season (19e45 + 1), the young left winger Malick Fofana shone and saw doubles too (10e55e). Rayan Cherki honored his first start of the season with two assists and a nice kill. It’s a mini-resurrection for the 21-year-old striker, in the “loft” at the end of summer to force a transfer that did not materialize, and in the light since he came out. Here he is with two goals and two assists in four games.
The Lyonnais inflicted on the Rangers one of their rare defeats at home in recent years on the European scene, as they had already done in September 2021. The “Light Blues” of Philippe Clement, former coach of Monaco, have rarely turned on the light and took the Rhone lightning, they who nevertheless remained on four victories in a row, all without conceding a goal.
OL must now show the same efficiency and consistency in Ligue 1, where they occupy 11th place.e place after six days, and continue their European momentum against the Turks of Besiktas for the next European meeting.
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Nice in disarray
Conversely, a little before the Lyon festival, the Roman escapade in Nice had turned into a nightmare. Starting with the weather: while it was still 25°C the day before, the Olympic Stadium was transformed under the effect of almost uninterrupted downpours into a swimming pool with a pitch sometimes at the limit of the passable.
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But the external conditions do not alone explain the rout of the “Gym”, which fell against a relentless Lazio, even more attractive than ever since the start of its season.
“The pitch wasn’t good for both teams, but when you’re leading it’s a lot easier (…)we wanted to try to play, but it was very complicated”summarized the Nice captain, Dante.
Nothing worked for the Azuréens, overwhelmed in particular by the omnipresent Argentine striker Valentin Castellanos. Like their first half hour against Lens (0-0) last weekend where they saw all the colors, Franck Haise’s players completely missed the start of the match.
They left control of the ball to Lazio who created several dangerous chances – including a crossbar from Castellanos – before nicely opening the scoring in the 20the minute. On a corner taken by Pedro, the Nice defense had all the difficulty in the world to clear the ball, returning to the feet of the former FC Barcelona player who, although very off-center, propelled it into the opponent’s top corner (1 -0).
Despite a timid start, Nice conceded a second goal in the 35the minute when his defense was surprised by a bright opening in the axis for Castellanos who poked his ball over goalkeeper Marcin Bulka (2-0).
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Hope quickly showered
Shortly before the break, Jérémie Boga gave hope to the 800 Nice supporters present in Rome by reducing the gap, after a one-two with Youssoufa Moukoko (2-1, 41e). But Nice’s hopes were quickly dashed after the break when the inevitable Castellanos brought the score to 3-1 after a superb individual raid (53e).
While the playing conditions deteriorated with the formation of puddles slowing down the ball in the center of the field in particular, Lazio sank the Niçois with a fourth goal from the penalty spot by Mattia Zaccagni (67e4-1).
After its draw against Real Sociedad (1-1) which had raised many hopes, Nice, whose squad was decimated by injuries, fell from a height. And the horizon is quite crowded: Sunday, OGC hosts Paris SG, upset by its defeat at Arsenal (2-0) in the Champions League.
Lazio is already the scarecrow of this C3, with two convincing successes (3-0 against Dynamo kyiv in the 1e daytime).
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