Starting against Qarabag on Thursday evening (1-4), Georges Mikautadze did not miss the opportunity to shine. The Georgian OL striker scored twice and established himself as a serious competitor to Alexandre Lacazette.
Despite lackluster performances since the start of the season, Alexandre Lacazette is still the starter in the eyes of Pierre Sage. You only have to look at Lyon's lineups during big Ligue 1 matches like in the derby against Saint-Etienne to be convinced. The captain of Olympique Lyonnais is systematically aligned. It must be said that since the start of the season, Georges Mikautadze has not shined, which has not motivated Pierre Sage to change his attacking plans. But this November, the Georgian international is in good shape. Scorer twice with his selection during the break, he also scored twice this Thursday evening against Qarabag in the Europa League.
What if it was finally time for a change in attack for Pierre Sage? The question deserves to be asked according to Régis Dupont, journalist from L'Equipe present at the match against Qarabag on Thursday evening and who wonders who will start against Nice on Sunday. “Between the Mikautadze we knew at the start of the season and the current Mikautadze, there is a huge difference. Moreover, we see it on his second goal, he has incredible composure, that contrasts with his start to the season where the slightest control was difficult, we felt that he had lost confidence. He is on the right track and it can also be seen in the statistics. He scored twice against Auxerre, so his last two starts are 4 goals” the journalist first said before continuing.
Mikautadze, a serious threat for Lacazette
“We also see him in the national team with Georgia where he scored both times during the international break. He is a very effective player, and I would even be tempted to say that he is more effective than Lacazette today. It’s a fact” affirms the journalist on Chaîne L'Equipe, opening the debate between Georges Mikautadze and Alexandre Lacazette for the end of the 2024 calendar year. For the moment, Pierre Sage is fully satisfied with the management of his workforce with a rotation which allows him to concern everyone. But the OL coach will have to decide and at this rate, it is not certain that Georges Mikautadze will not steal the starting place from Alexandre Lacazette.
