The 11th day of Ligue 1 brings us a poster between Lyon and Saint-Etienne. The derby is back, after almost 3 years of waiting. A meeting that counts more than any other in the minds of supporters of both camps. A meeting which would also have lost flavor for 2 former Lyonnais.
A historic rivalry between two cities and two clubs
The rivalry between Saint-Étienne and Lyon was built well before the era of football. For decades, these two cities have been confronting each other. Lyon stands out as the textile capital and a bourgeois city, while Saint-Étienne is associated with the mining sector and a working-class spirit. This contrast between two lifestyles and values naturally created tensions.
The arrival of football only amplified this rivalry. In the 1960s and 1970s, ASSE largely dominated French football. OL are powerless, and observe this superiority without being able to challenge it. Saint-Étienne is one of, if not the, favorite teams of the French at the time. ASSE has 10 French championship titles on its record in 1981.
Lyon will wait another 21 years, after the last coronation of the Greens to win its first title. OL dominate French football with seven consecutive titles. From 2001-2002 to 2007-2008, the Gones were invincible in Ligue 1. During this time, ASSE experienced a difficult period, marked by a descent to Ligue 2 in 2002. The Greens also experienced a long series of unsuccessful matches. against his rival. It was not until the 100th derby in 2010 that the Greens finally beat OL, 16 years after their last victory.
2 Lyonnais accuse ASSE of making the derby less attractive
The tension is less palpable than usual for Nicolas Puydebois. The former Lyon player said this in the show As long as there are Gone: “It's a shame, we let this rivalry die out, this flame was lost. Without violence, but in the spirit of calm and regional supremacy, this must be merited and revived.” It's this intense energy that you look for when you're a high-level athlete.”
For Enzo Réale, the main reason explaining this lack of enthusiasm is the fact that the Greens and OL do not have the same ambitions. Here are the words of the former player from the Lyon training center: “The best derbies were when Saint-Étienne were playing at the top of the table. Today, their team is no longer necessarily at a level where they can compete, which takes a little spice away from the confrontation.”
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