Emmanuel LANGELLIER, Media365, published on Thursday November 28, 2024 at 8:45 p.m.
Winner for the 3rd time in 5 Europa League matches, Lyon defeated Qarabag (4-1) on home soil thanks to a great performance in Azerbaijan and some fine goals. Qualification for the rest of the competition is looming.
After 2 victories (2-0 against Olympiakos and 4-1 at Glasgow Rangers), a draw (2-2 at Hoffenheim) and a defeat (0-1 against Besiktas), Olympique Lyonnais continued its interesting journey in the Europa League. Thursday evening, under heavy rain, the Rhone team won easily on the Qarabag field (4-1) which featured a certain Juninho (a Brazilian, certainly, but nothing to do with the former maestro of the 'OL) and a certain Benzia (there, it was indeed the player trained in the Rhône) in his initial composition, suddenly seizing the provisional 6th place in the league phase of the Europa League after the matches at 6:45 p.m. Enough to glimpse qualification for the rest of the competition, and at least for the play-offs. The Azerbaijani spectators were treated to an excellent match, rhythmic, lively and full of clear chances. OL proved to be the most decisive in finally winning hands down.
Perri saved twice by his amounts, Cherki still good
With a team without much rotation compared to the typical eleven, as Pierre Sage announced on the eve of the match – “There will be less rotation than usual. The best point to work on consistency is to work on the stability of the squad” – OL quickly got in the right direction thanks to Mikautadze, author of the quarter-hour play of a winning recovery with the flat of the right foot after a nice action (15th minute). Maitland-Niles followed up at the start for Cherki who played on the right towards Nuamah, a decisive passer for the Georgian striker on a precise cross back. In front, Lyon then trembled because it was unable to take cover. But Perri fortunately intervened in front of Benzia (45th) and Juninho (58th). And when he was beaten, OL's Argentinian goalkeeper was saved twice by his uprights (Andrade's shot on the post in the 18th, Juninho's header on the crossbar in the 42nd).
Double from Mikautadze
Entering at the break, Tolisso relieved the Lyonnais thanks to a splendid right-footed strike from 25 meters (63rd) after situations from Cherki (35th, 47th, 56th, 62nd), who confirmed his excellent form, and Nuamah (39th ). Fofana (68th), scorer on a precise cross from Benrahma, and Mikautadze (80th), who stunned the opposing defense thanks to a magnificent sequence, gave more scope to the Rhone success, which was not wasted at the end of the game (87th) by the penalty conceded by Perri, an unfortunate scorer against his side, from the back, after Juninho's shot was pushed back by the right post.
