Despite being pushed around for many minutes, the Lyonnais ended up playing on the pitch of the Azerbaijani club (1-4). They are doing very well in the race for the top 8.
Lyon is relaunching on the European scene. After two games without a win (defeat against Besiktas, draw at Hoffenheim), Olympique Lyonnais returned to success during the 5th day of the Europa League this Thursday, winning 4-1 on the Qarabag pitch in Baku.
Jostled or even dominated during the first act, the Gones showed themselves to be ultra-realistic in front of the opposing goal like Georges Mikautadze, author of a double (15th, 80th). Corentin Tolisso (63rd), with a superb shot into the top corner, and Malick Fofana (68th) also found the net before the Azerbaijanis reduced the score from the penalty spot at the end of the match by Juninho (87th).
Lyon rushed but efficient
Against Qarabag, the Lyonnais were, however, dominated by a team which had 56.7% of ball possession but was unable to translate it into goals. The Azerbaijani club hit the post on an attempt by Andrade (18th) and the crossbar on a header from Juninho (42nd).
Goalkeeper Lucas Perri was also decisive in his team's victory, which he notably saved in front of Yassine Benzia (45th) or on another header from Juninho (58th), while Jankovic narrowly missed the target on a free kick (41st). At the end of the match, Perri was unfortunate on a penalty shot against the post by Juninho, namesake of the OL legend, before the ball bounced off him to enter the cage (4-1, 88th). This rather generous penalty was awarded for a foul by Ainsley Maitland-Niles on Elvin Jafarguliyev.
This goal had no consequences for Lyon who had done what was necessary previously thanks to great efficiency by causing pain at the right times on rapid attacks. Coach Pierre Sage had announced that there would be fewer rotations than previously but he nevertheless made seven changes from his starting lineup in Reims in the French championship on November 23.
Mikautadze you can double
He notably chose to rest striker and captain Alexandre Lacazette who did not come into play, preserved in view of the reception of Nice in Ligue 1, Sunday (5:00 p.m.). It was his replacement Georges Mikautadze who opened the scoring by taking a cross delivered from the right wing by Ernest Nuamah in the 15th minute.
He also scored OL's fourth goal by converting a good serve from Maitland-Niles (80th). This is the first time that Mikautadze (24 years old) has scored in a European Cup. Corentin Tolisso, who entered at half-time, brought the score to 2-0 with a superb strike into the top corner (63rd) before Malick Fofana victoriously took home a cross sent from the right by Saïd Benrahma (3-0, 68th).
A header from Duje Caleta-Car, deflected by Benzia, upon receiving a corner, also hit the bar without Nicolas Tagliafico being able to retake from close range (57th). At the end of the game, Sage was able to afford to offer young Enzo Molebe, one of the few current talents at the training center, his first minutes in a professional match.
As a result of this victory, OL are back in 6th position in the full C3 standings while awaiting the outcome of the matches starting at 9 p.m.
In other results from the start of the evening, Lazio Rome, leader, conceded a goalless draw against Ludogorets (0-0). Athletic Bilbao did the job against the Swedes of Elfsborg (3-0) while Porto and Anderlecht parted back to back in Belgium (2-2).
The results of 18:45 in the Europa League:
- Karabag – OL 1-4
- Athletic Bilbao – Elfsborg 3-0
- Lazio – Ludogorets 0-0
- Anderlecht – Porto 2-2
- AZ Alkmaar – Galatasaray 1-1
- Besiktas – Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-3
- Dynamo Kiev – Viktoria Plzen 1-2
- Riga FS – PAOK 0-2
