Redemption will wait. Three days later “a terrible performance” et “a missed appointment with their honor” against Bourgoin-Jallieu, OL delivered a sad performance against Toulouse (0-0). Deprived of Alexandre Lacazette, the sixth in the championship never seemed able to find an answer to the purple equation. Monaco and Nice left a door open on Friday, but Lyon remains sixth, in the hunter’s shoes.
Ultra Violets
In the reconquest operation, OL quickly took the initiative in the debates. Just a minute into the game, and Rayan Cherki already fires a first strike at the edge of the area – blocked by the defense (2e). Saïd Benrahma then took a great opportunity by slipping the ball behind Corentin Tolisso, in a position to hurt Toulouse (8e). The Algerian showed more accuracy when finding Cherki in the area, but Mark McKenzie annihilated the Olympic vice-champion’s point (22e). The symbol of a first act where OL, despite six shots, never managed to destabilize the fourth best defense in the championship.
Conversely, Toulouse knew how to cause problems for its host. Zakaria Aboukhlal’s opportunistic goal, justly refused for an offside by Joshua King (12e), issued a serious warning. The Lyonnais did not understand the message well, since the Violets set fire to the opposing area before half-time. Groupama Stadium held its breath as it saw Moussa Niakhaté’s failed clearance return to the cage and almost turn into a CSC (45e). Aron Dønnum’s cross brought another thrill, but without harm, as King only caught the outside of the side net (45e+3).
Dry January
Toulouse continued at the same pace after the intermission. Taking advantage of the generosity of the Lyon defense, Zakaria Aboukhlal and Yann Gboho in turn called on Lucas Perri (49e). Aron Dønnum also managed to put himself in a dangerous position in the area to take a shot that wasn’t wrapped enough (60e). On the other side of the field, Georges Mikautadze cruelly failed to make General Lacazette forget. Established for only the second time in the last nine days, number 69 has never been able to stand out, like this shot from the left from 16 meters, far from the target (71e). Barely off the bench, Malick Fofana brought the Gones attack back to life and ignited the spark by forcing Remains to make a save under his bar (72e). However, the fire was extinguished quite quickly.
This time, no CSC from Logan Costa at 88e (April 2023), headbutt from Jake O’Brien at 81e (March 2024) or lightning from Malick Fofana to the 90e+5 (last September) for watching a well-organized TFC. Instead, an explanation of the text at the final whistle with supporters quite annoyed by their team’s performance. After the defeat against Brest and the elimination against Bourgoin-Jallieu, Pierre Sage has his work cut out for him. And the February calendar promises to be spicy, between a trip to Marseille and the reception of PSG.
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New racist excesses and Nazi salutes in the Lyon kop in Toulouse
