OL successfully entered the Europa League against Olympiacos this Thursday (2-0). After the match, Nemanja Matic loudly proclaimed Lyon’s ambitions in this competition.
Olympique Lyonnais has turned its head around. In difficulty in Ligue 1, with only four points in five days and a frustrating defeat against OM on Sunday (3-2), the Rhone club perfectly negotiated its first Europa League match against Olympiacos this Thursday ( 2-0).
>> Relive OL-Olympiacos (2-0)
At Groupama Stadium, Pierre Sage’s men overpowered the Greek club thanks to two goals scored in the second half. Author of a second goal in two games, Rayan Cherki first gave Lyon the advantage (65th), before Saïd Benrahma made the break a few moments later (71st).
“It was important to start the Europa League with a victory,” said Nemanja Matic after the match. “We are happy with the way we played. It was important to score quickly in the second half, then the second goal allowed us to close the game. We really deserved this victory.”
Matic, three-time finalist of the competition
Asked about Lyon’s ambitions in this competition, the experienced Serbian midfielder, three times finalist of the C3 during his career (with Benfica in 2013, Manchester United in 2021 and AS Roma in 2023) but never a winner, does not didn’t beat around the bush: “Our ambition? To win the Europa League”, he replied.
Thanks to this success, the Lyonnais are in any case taking the right train in this new Europa League formula. They are eighth (out of 36) in this first phase, knowing that you have to be in the first eight to qualify directly for the round of 16 and between 9th and 24th place to be in the play-offs. They now have a meeting with Glasgow Rangers in a week in Scotland (Thursday October 3 at 9 p.m.).
