Emmanuel LANGELLIER, Media365: published on Thursday December 12, 2024 at 11:53 p.m.
Discover our tops and flops after Olympique Lyonnais' victory against Eintracht Frankfurt (3-2) in the Europa League, Thursday evening, at the end of a superb match.
The tops
Cherki still ensures
On fire for several weeks, Rayan Cherki shined again Thursday evening at Groupama Stadium during the victory against Eintracht Frankfurt (3-2). Inspired, strong, precise in his transmissions, the attacking midfielder once again played fair and was decisive for his team. His stats sheet? A goal, the equalizer by deflecting a shot from Corentin Tolisso (27th), and 2 assists for Malick Fofana (50th) and Ernest Nuamah (54th). At 21, he confirms his excellent performance.
Tolisso is back in great shape
Corentin Tolisso is far from his 21 years, but he displays one of these levels! The defensive midfielder is only 30 years old but we thought he was finished for the very high level after physical problems. He shows that he is really coming back to the forefront this season. Very strong, the pure Lyon product is as important defensively as offensively (shot on the post in the 7th, Cherki deflects his shot on the Rhone equalizer). What if he found the French team in 2025?
Fofana, one more goal
Malick Fofana once again hurt the opponent with his speed and acceleration. At first not rewarded, the young Belgian ended up being rewarded in the 50th minute. His 4th goal in 6 Europa League matches. The hard-hitting attacking midfielder is Olympique Lyonnais' top scorer in C3.
-The flops
Caleta-Car scared
Fortunately, it ended well for OL this Thursday evening in the Rhône. But Duje Caleta-Car could have plunged his team into nagging doubt. Lyon indeed found itself trailing in this very good poster worthy of the Champions League between 2nd in the Bundesliga and 5th in Ligue 1. Quite heavy and in difficulty in front of Hugo Eikitike, the Croatian showed himself at the origin of the first German goal on a slip within his penalty area which benefited the French striker, passer for Ansgar Knauff.
Ekitike has passed away
In great form recently, Ugo Ekitike started his meeting well at Groupama Stadium. After a shot on target and captured by Lucas Perri in the 6th minute, the French striker became a decisive passer for Ansgar Knauff in the 19th minute. Then OL took over and the man who scored 11 goals in 20 games this season faded away. We hardly saw him anymore (even if he was at the start of the action on Eintracht's 2nd goal).
The referee could have been expensive
OL won an excellent European Cup match after being surprised on home soil by putting in a great performance. The Rhone team showed itself to be strong to get the better of the runner-up of Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga on a regular basis but they could, should have, evolved into a numerical superiority from the 21st minute. Already warned in the 13th minute, Niels Nkounkou should have seen red after another anti-playing foul on Ernest Nuamah, but Andris Treimanis, the Greek referee of the match, was kind, very kind on this occasion by not drawing no further warning. Fortunately, this had no consequences for OL. Mr Treimanis probably did not want to be harsh with Frankfurt but there is no good time to bring out the boxes.