Yassine Benzia, Qarabag striker
Exiled in Azerbaijan for two seasons, Yassine Benzia is one of the executives of Qarabag. Thursday evening, he will return to OL, his training club.
By joining Azerbaijan in the summer of 2023, he certainly did not imagine crossing paths with OL again. There was indeed the possibility of a confrontation in the European Cup, but seeing the chaotic first part of the season of his training club, Yassine Benzia certainly wasn't counting on it. And yet, Thursday evening (6:45 p.m.), the attacker will meet some of his former teammates again. There haven't been many of them since then, but seeing Corentin Tolisso or Alexandre Lacazette, the Algerian remembered the good memories of Tola Vologe or even those as professionals. Member of the 1994 generation like Tolisso, Yassine Benzia did not have the expected career at OL with only 54 matches played. Far from those he met at the Academy.
22 goals and 21 assists in 75 games with Qarabag
No matter, Thursday evening, he will be one of the poisons that Pierre Sage's training will have to be wary of. Having made the choice to go into exile after his end of adventure in blood sausage Dijon, Benzia first chose Turkey with Hatayspor before going a little further east. Present in the workforce of Karabagh for two seasons, the native of Saint-Aubin-lès-Elbeuf (Normandy) has established himself as one of the stars of this Azeri club, to the point of returning to the Algerian selection. This is good, OL have a Fennec in their squad with Saïd Benrahma. The two offensive players have already been able to launch hostilities during the truce with the African selection.
