Rayan Cherki (OL) warming up (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP)
Discreet in the first half, Rayan Cherki inspired OL's revival during the second act. Unlike Alexandre Lacazette, always in the tough. Find the best and the flop of Olympique-et-Lyonnais.
The best: Cherki, the detonator
We thought for 45 minutes that he was going to fall back into his mistakes like in the last two outings. Like the whole group, Rayan Cherki was very discreet during the first act. And then the spark for OL came from its international hopeful. Much freer in his movements, the Lyon number 18 took matters into his own hands and regained his play instinctively and without embellishments to allow OL to secure a draw (1-1).
In the 52nd minute, he delighted with a festival in the area and a perfect ball for Lacazette who misses the opportunity to equalize. Behind, he puts it back perfectly for Maitland-Niles which sees the framework slipping away from its legal exterior. Finally, the bar chose not to reward him for his festival of leg passes in the area followed by an unstoppable strike to Chevalier (70e). Cherki was involved in all of Lyon's good moves in the second half and even added a defensive retreat which was a pleasure to see, even at the end of the match.
The flop: Lacazette still can't do it
We're not going to lie, there could have been many of them to take their place in this category… OL's appearance was very far from what was expected, especially during the first half. However, Lacazette's shortage is seriously starting to worry. Yes, he scored against Rangers and against Le Havrebut in the game, the attacker is clearly in trouble. In the first, he was not helped, finding himself alone at the forefront of the attack. However, the technical accuracy was not there for the captain, like this missed pass at the end of half-time when OL had been running for a minute.
With 25 balloons, Lucas Perri hit Lacazette's double during the first 45 minutes. It happens for a striker, much less missing so many clear chances. In the 52nd minute, Cherki had done everything to offer him on a platter. The return of Diakite also had a lot to do with the failure, but the surface of the foot used by Lacazette was already not the right one. With courage, he tried to exist, but it is too little for such a leader who now displays five clear missed opportunities in 10 days.
