Yassine Benzia, Qarabag striker
Trained at OL, Yassine Benzia has been playing for two seasons at FK Qarabag. Thursday evening (6:45 p.m.), there will inevitably be a bit of nostalgia for the Algerian, even if many things have changed since his departure.
Just like the Yannis TaferIshak Belfodilhe was one of those players who came out of the Academy and whose supporters hoped why not to be Karim's successor Benzema. Like the two names mentioned, Yassine Benzia did not follow this path at OL, having basic qualities different from the 2022 Ballon d'Or. Passed by the Lyon Academy, the native of Saint-Aubin-lès-Elbeuf made his professional debut in May 2012 and played alongside Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolissoalso a member of the 1994 generation.
The two are still present in the Lyon ranks and will cross paths with their former teammate, today number 10 of the FK Arab. If his two sidekicks are still there, almost everything has changed at OL since Benzia's departure almost ten years ago now. “If the coach asks me for one or two pieces of advice, I will be happy to give it to him. But my time was more than ten years ago, Yassine wanted to react Benzia this Wednesday at a press conference. Since then they've changed presidents, they've changed a lot of things and I would say the team I was with was better, but they still have a very good team today.”
“A special match for me, but important for the team”
Many things have changed in the Lyon ranks, butOL OL will always remain for the Algerian international. There will therefore be a bit of nostalgia on Thursday evening when returning to the pitch for the 5th Europa League meeting for the two teams. But not enough to fall into sentimentality for Benziawho has crossed paths with the Lyonnais on numerous occasions (5 times) since his departure for Lille. “I am very happy to play Thursday against Lyon, I hope it will be a good match, he continued. It's a special match for me, but I'm going to do my best to win it because it's very important for us.”
Indeed, with one victory and three defeats, FK Qarabag has its back against the wall four days from the end. A victory against the French team is almost obligatory at home.
