Lyon logically won 2 to 0 at the expense of the Greek club Olympiakos Piraeus, Thursday at the Groupama stadium, in match 1re day of the Europa League thanks to goals from Rayan Cherki and Saïd Benrahma, and thus succeeded in his return to the European scene.
In a ranking which brings together 36 clubs, OL is in the first half (7e) and will try to confirm on the road on October 3 in Glasgow against Rangers (5es), winners of the Swedes of Malmö (2-0).
Cherki finds the light
Already a scorer on Sunday against Marseille despite the 3-2 defeat, Cherki, served by Ainsley Maitland-Niles, opened the scoring with a powerful shot despite a tight angle (65e).
The young player (21 years old) makes a thunderous return to the Lyon team after being left out this summer while awaiting a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, Dortmund or Fulham which never concluded.
Shortly after his goal, he was replaced by Saïd Benrahma who brought the score to 2-0 after a service from Wilfried Zaha, last minute recruit of the transfer window and entered at the same time as the Algerian international (65e).
For its part, Olympiakos was fairly harmless.
In addition to Rodinei’s shot in the first period, the Greek team was only dangerous thanks to an action by Roman Yaremchuk blocked at the last minute by Duje Caleta-Car (49e) who scored against his camp on a cross from Willian, a goal canceled for offside (89e).
The turns of Groupama Stadium closed
OL left the C3 on April 14, 2022 with a 3-0 home defeat to the English team of West Ham in the quarter-final second leg of the event concluded following incidents caused by the Lyon ultras which earned the club Rhone to be sanctioned with a closed session in its northern and southern bends.
Thus, only 24,414 spectators were present in the enclosure to see Lyon dominate a low-level Greek team against which Pierre Sage’s men still struggled throughout a soporific first period marked by numerous approximations on both sides. other.
During this, the two goalkeepers saved their side in front of Corentin Tolisso for Kostas Tzolakis (26e) et Rodinei pour Lucas Perri (32e).
After half-time, OL were nevertheless much more dynamic and created several chances.
Lacazette hits the post
A shot from Alexandre Lacazette, still looking for his first goal this season, hit the post (48e).
David Carmo failed to score against his side (52nd) while Ernest Nuamah was blocked by Lorenzo Pirola (59th).e).
Tzolakis saved his team twice again in front of Tolisso (59e64e).
