Olympique Lyonnais hosts Racing Club de Strasbourg this Friday for the 3rd day of Ligue 1 (8:45 p.m.). Here is the expected lineup for OL.
After two worrying defeats, against Rennes (0-3) then Monaco (0-2), theOlympic Lyon must absolutely react to start its season, this Friday evening, against Racing Club de Strasbourg (kick-off at 8:45 p.m.). A match that will be played in a special context, in the last hours of the transfer window.
Pierre Sage will be able to count on an almost full squad for this match. “Concerning fitness, Nicolas Tagliafico is still receiving treatment, I think he will be unfit for the match. That’s all, except Ernest Nuamah, who was injured in the previous match. Orel Mangala was not present this morning, it’s a precautionary measure” explained the OL coach.
A new solution for Pierre Sage
One question nevertheless animates this pre-match: will the recruit Tanner Tessmann be in the starting line-up a few days after his arrival? For the American international, Pierre Sage evokes “Quite positive first impressions”. “He has the courage to play, he often asks for the ball, even under pressure. He will provide us with solutions over time and in the sequence of our matches. With the many matches to come, it is important to ensure continuity. It is essential to have doubled positions with the ability to maintain the level of performance. He is similar to Matic, he brings a lot of link between the lines. We feel that he has a real ability to play with others. He is also capable of scoring, especially with shots from afar, which will offer us other solutions.”
It remains to be seen whether this reinforcement will be included in the starting eleven. In view of the latest copies returned by OL, with a midfield in great difficulty, this is a more than probable hypothesis. For the rest, the usual strong men are expected, from captain Lacazette to goalkeeper Perri.
The expected line-up for OL : Perri – Mata, Caleta-Car, Niakhaté, Abner – Tessmann, Matic – Mikautadze, Benrahma, Fofana – Lacazette (c).