Moussa Niakhaté, Lacazette and the OL players @UEFA
On Sunday, OL host AS Saint-Étienne for the long-awaited derby. However, Pierre Sage's players first have a Europa League match to play, just as crucial for his future.
One is so anticipated that it almost makes you forget the other. In this derby week, OL supporters would already like to be able to turn towards the AS reception Saint-Etienne Sunday (8:45 p.m.). Some have already done it. You only have to see the articles in the local press or the messages on social networks to understand that this regional duel appears to all the minds and all the fantasies of one side or the other. However, if the Greens are already focused on their Sunday trip to the Rhône, the players of Pierre Sage will have to put this excitement (if it exists) aside for a while longer. This Wednesday, the Lyonnais will head to Germany, and not to go sightseeing. Thursday evening (9 p.m.), OL will meet at the PreZero Arena to face Hoffenheim. If facing the 16th in the Bundesliga is not an insurmountable obstacle, this 4th European meeting of the season is not to be taken lightly, quite the contrary. After two convincing victories against l'Olympiakos and the RangersOL bit the dust against Besiktas.
Getting off to a good start in Europe before the championship
This match, Alexandre Lacazette's teammates could have played it ten times, they would have won it nine times. Lack of luck, the 30,000 spectators present that day at Parc OL came across the wrong scenario of the story. At the end of the meeting, Pierre Sage and his players did not want to sound the alarm. The face shown for 90 minutes suggested a return to normal very quickly. Unfortunately, the draw against Auxerre and the “unworthy” first half to Lille did not dissipate the clouds. There are necessarily reasons for satisfaction but this ten days ended with only two points, far from the expected objectives. So face Hoffenheim who is currently a barrage in the Bundesliga must help get back on the right path. Because, if the trip to Germany will logically condition confidence for the derby in the mind of Pierre Sage, it is also of capital importance in the race for qualification in the Europa League.
By losing against BesiktasOL burned a joker which could have been used this Thursday or at the end of November with the long trip to Azerbaijan. By getting the best of Stanley's teammates N'Soki (ex-PSG), the Rhone residents would take a big step towards qualifying for the play-offs, a minimum objective in this campaign. A contrary result would not overshadow these chances, but we saw it in the previous match. In this new formula, poor performance causes the ranking to drop. And with theEintracht Francfort et Fenerbahce still on the program, the Lyon calendar is not necessarily the easiest. Taking as many points as possible this November with Hoffenheim and Qarabag is almost an obligation.
Small rotations with big consequences?
On paper, the three points against a team that has been sick since the restart in August should be a formality. The players still need to be at the level. Before traveling to LillePierre Sage had argued that the recovery period between the trip to the North and that to Germany could allow him to not necessarily think in terms of group of matches. We could therefore assume that the team lined up on Sunday against LOSC would be on deck again on Thursday. Only, even if you don't have to think about it right away, a derby presents itself three days later in Décines. What can you imagine seeing rotations on the eleven? This is what Nicolas calls Puydebois and Enzo Real particularly on the Lacazette file – Mikautadze. “Mikautadze must start with the usual starters to be able to get his bearings with them, to be right. Find automatisms with Rayan Cherki and Malick Fofana.”
With Hoffenheimthe sparring partner seems perfect to be able to test the Georgian with a revised casting. And score points for the derby? Whether we like it or not, it is Sunday that everyone is looking forward to, but the excitement will be even greater having perfectly ensured the German turn.
