Laurent Sanson / Panoramic / Laurent SANSON / Laurent Sanson / Panoramic / Laurent SANSON
This Monday, the Pierre-Mauroy stadium was the scene of a shower of goals. Lyon had a crazy comeback against Lille (3-4). The Northerners did not seize their chance to get on the podium and have a glimpse of the Champions League.
TOPS
A crazy scenario
The weeks go by and look the same for Lyon. The men of Pierre Sage, who celebrated his 45th birthday this Sunday, like to play at scaring each other. Getting off to a bad start at half-time after the goals from Diakité (21st) and Zhegrova (37th), the Lyonnais returned from the locker room more conquering – difficult to do worse than in the first 45 minutes -. “At half-time, the coach had the right words. said Alexandre Lacazette. At the end of a great collective action, part of a brilliant deep pass from Matic for Maitland-Niles, Lacazette serves Benrahma perfectly who finishes from the left (66th).
In the last ten minutes of the match, the scenario plunges into the surreal. Fofana equalizes (2-2, 82nd) before Diakité, again, places an angry header for the 3 to 2 in favor of Lille (85th). Opposite, Lyon does not give up and returns to the score through its Chief General, Alexandre Lacazette (3-3, 88th). Galvanized by its supporters, who made the trip, the Lyonnais roared a fourth time. Baldé gives victory to his team (3-4, 90+2). The statistic is crazy. Lyon obtained 51% of its points after being behind.
Lyon roars again
Red lantern before the arrival of Pierre Sage on the bench, the Gones continue their crazy comeback. After this success on the pitch at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium, Lyon occupies seventh place in the standings, two points from Lens and the place in the Europa Conference League. For the first time this season, the Lyonnais have never been so close to European places. They have two matches left against Clermont and Strasbourg to qualify for the European Cup, although they were unexpected after a catastrophic start.
Sage’s winning coaching
As soon as he returned from the locker room, Pierre Sage made his first change. Tagliafico, too tight physically, gives way to Maitland-Niles on the left side of the Lyon defense. Later in the second half, the entries of Mangala, Cherki, Fofana and Baldé followed. Paying choices for the 45-year-old coach. The last two mentioned helped reverse the trend of the match. Fofana scored the goal of 2 everywhere on a service from Baldé (82nd). The latter put on the hero’s costume ten minutes later by offering victory to Lyon (3-4). Since the start of the 2024 calendar year, the Gones replacements have been the authors of nine goals.
FLOPS
Lille collapses and misses the opportunity
With a victory this evening and after Brest’s draw against Nantes on Saturday (0-0), Lille had the opportunity to get on the podium for the first time this season and glimpse the Champions League two days before the END. But the scenario was too good to be true. After a controlled first 45 minutes, Fonsenca’s men returned to the locker room with a two-goal lead and then… nothing more.
In the second half, they were thrown around in all areas of the game. Between duels, possession of the ball and the number of chances. Lille had two shots on goal after returning from the locker room, including one on target. Diakité’s goal (85th). In the end, LOSC lost (3-4) and missed its chance of a podium as if for fear of returning to the Champions League. “We have the match in hand. In the second half we go backwards. It’s difficult to react quickly. We didn’t press enough, that’s what gave them confidence. There are two matches left. You have to stay focused,” said Jonathan David.
Funny evening for Zhegrova
Rewarded at the start of the match with the trophy for best player of the month of March, it was from the bench that Edon Zhegrova saw his teammates open the scoring. But when Yazici is injured alone on a trivial gesture (24th), the Kosovar puts on his jersey and makes a premature entry. On the leg lately, he was quick to show his talent. With a low shot from the left, he deceives Lopes to allow Lille to make the break (37th). In the second half, he felt that the match was changing. But when he sees his number 23 displayed on the fourth official’s panel, his face closes. The player understands that he will have to give up his place (75th). Paulo Fonseca chooses to take him out to solidify his defense with the appearance on the pitch of Alexsandro. In the last quarter hour, Lille conceded three goals. Conclusions are quickly made.
