After almost three years without a confrontation, AS Saint-Etienne and Olympique Lyonnais meet again at Groupama Stadium this Sunday. A highly anticipated 125th derby for the Greens.
1024 days without a derby between Olympique Lyonnais and Saint-Etienne. This Sunday, the series will end. The Gones will host the Greens for a 7th duel at Groupama Stadium as part of the 11th day of Ligue 1. “We've been talking about it for a while. Already, when the calendar came out this summer, I understood that it was a date to check off,” Olivier Dall’Oglio said at a press conference this Friday. “The supporters remind us often, we cannot forget,” said the coach.
At the start of the season, Saint-Étienne, newly promoted, is lagging behind in Ligue 1. The Greens have accumulated 10 points in 10 days, including only one snatched away against Nantes (2-2). For their part, the Lyonnais are in 6th place with 15 points. Pierre Sage's men are not sparkling at home with two victories in five matches.
>>> All the information before the 11th day of Ligue 1
“It’s a national event, we’re taking PSG’s place”
In 124 derbies, Saint-Etienne has 44 victories, compared to 46 for OL and 34 draws. The Greens have not won an away derby since March 30, 2014 (2-1) thanks to goals from Mevlut Erding and Max-Alain Gradel. But nothing to discourage Olivier Dall'Oglio, for whom it is the first shock: “It's a national event. The proof, we play on Sunday at 8:45 p.m., we take the place of PSG. There is a lot of interest in This match is very followed nationally.”
In the locker room, the elders advise the younger ones, everyone is preparing with one more day of training this week. “The players are expecting a party and a different match,” Olivier Dall’Oglio said at a press conference. “We must not forget that it remains a football match, there are points to be taken. There will be commitment, the guys will be there. It will unite the group even more and we need it. Because without a collective , we are nothing,” concluded the Greens coach.
The Ligeriens will not be able to count on their supporters at Groupama Stadium but they will be able to see them during training this Saturday and the departure of the bus the next day. Kick-off will be at 8:45 p.m. this Sunday.
