Mathieu Warnier, Media365: published on Saturday January 4, 2025 at 11:55 p.m.
Discover our tops and our flops following Lyon’s victory against Montpellier (1-0) this Saturday on the pitch at Groupama Stadium on the occasion of the 16th day of Ligue 1.
The tops
Perri ran the store
In an evening that was far from easy for the Lyon team, but still ended with a close victory against Montpellier, Lucas Perri was able to respond. The Brazilian goalkeeper was able to make the six necessary saves against the Hérault attack to prevent his team from a real snub against a team that had only known defeat away from home. Without him, the outcome of this meeting could have been completely different.
Savanier as if reinvigorated
Dispossessed of his captain’s armband, Téji Savanier responded on the field. Placed on the wing of the Paillade attack, he was involved in all the offensives. Precise but unsuccessful against the Lyon goal, he was the hub of his training even if he struggled in the duels against the Rhone defense. Efforts which were not crowned with success, however, with the MHSC losing for the eighth time in eight trips this season.
Lacazette weighing
If the Montpellier rearguard ended up cracking in added time, it was in particular thanks to the constant pressure imposed by Alexandre Lacazette. The “General” will certainly have only struck twice, for a single attempt on target, he will have weighed on the Héraultais, being present in the duels and active in the offensive play of his team. He is thus at the origin of the decisive action.
The flops
Fayad, a missed entry
We cannot say that Jean-Louis Gasset had a hollow nose. Shortly after the hour mark, he brought on Khalil Fayad in place of Nikola Maksimovic. However, the Montpellier midfielder will not have impressed. Indeed, he missed a golden opportunity at the edge of the last quarter of an hour, missing the target while he was alone against Lucas Perri. But, above all, he will have plunged his team into the abyss with an own goal that could have been avoided. If he wanted to score points, he missed.
Benrahma little in sight
Installed at the heart of the Lyon attack, Saïd Benrahma will have delivered a new passable copy. Not very influential in his team’s play, he failed to be sharp by missing the target on his two attempts, being systematically beaten in duels and failing to dribble. A record which undoubtedly convinced Pierre Sage to replace him with Rayan Cherki for the last 25 minutes.
Adams misses out
Akor Adams will have had a complicated evening in Lyon. The Nigerian striker, placed at the forefront, had very few balls and therefore almost no opportunity to show his advantage. With just one shot, off target, he did not weigh on the Lyon defense despite his ability to win the few duels contested. Wahbi Khazri took over in the 64th minute, with more activity but not decisive.
