The OL Park during the derby against ASSE (Photo by OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE / AFP)
Expected at the turning point with the various threats from the public authorities, Parc OL responded on Sunday evening against Saint-Étienne. If some songs went beyond the bounds, the atmosphere pushed the Lyonnais to hold on until the end.
It was so anticipated that places were snapped up like hot cakes. After two seasons of absence, the return of the derby inevitably created excitement among supporters of theOL. Moreover, this enthusiasm was quickly reflected in the sold-out crowds at Parc OL for the arrival of Saint-Étienne, but also in the very early presence of supporters on Sunday at Décines. 5 p.m. had not yet struck when many Lyon fans had already taken possession of the venue's car parks and had gathered all around the square.
Larsonneur (almost) cracked under pressure
There were even pyrotechnic shows near the tram stops, to calmly raise the temperature for this derby. Having heard of the footage outside the stadium, John Weaver admitted to being more than surprised by the pre-match atmosphere. What followed only pushed the American owner to open his eyes wide inside OL Park. On Sunday evening, 58,082 supporters took their seats in the stadium stands. They were much more in front of their television screen, but it was a real 12th man who played his role in this derby.
Obviously, the instructions given on the sidelines of the meeting were not really respected, but who would have bet on the opposite? Anti-Stéphanois chants or against Gautier Larsonneur exceeded the authorized limit, but ultimately, the match was not stopped, to the great relief of the management of theOL. This hatred of the Greens even almost bore fruit in the 80th minute when Ernest Nuamah took advantage of an error by the Saint-Etienne goalkeeper to make the break.
Textor: “A truly incredible atmosphere”
The referee certainly canceled the goal, but it followed almost ten minutes of marking the pants of an entire stadium on Larsonneur. The pressure almost proved decisive and all the players on the Lyon side were keen to emphasize this. “I think we're in the top 3 from what I've experienced here, did not fail to note Alexandre Lacazette. From the warm-up, they were there. It helps to make the extra effort anyway. We want to give everything for them. For the team and for the support they have given us since the start of the season.”
On the Perri parade which “worth a goal” for the Lyon captain, the entire stadium reacted as if theOL had just scored a goal. The Brazilian's name was chanted in unison in the process. A strong symbol in a derby always dear to Anthony's heart Lopes. “It’s a moment that I will keep in my memory for the rest of my life”. Not everything was perfect on the pitch and in the stands, but in the end, OL won and that's all that mattered on Sunday evening to end this exceptional atmosphere around a “Who doesn't jump doesn't is not Lyonnais”.
