Olympique Lyonnais was largely beaten by Racing Club de Lens this Sunday evening, at Groupama Stadium (0-3, 24th day of Ligue 1). Les Gones finished with ten.
The Lyon supporters had almost ended up forgetting the bitter taste of defeat. More than a month after their last setback, in all competitions, Pierre Sage’s men fell on Sunday evening in their lair at Groupama Stadium against a Racing Club de Lens slightly above in all areas (0-3, 24th day of League 1). The Sang et Or attack was there, as was Brice Samba, decisive on several occasions in front of his cage. In the standings, Lens moves back ahead of Marseille and recovers sixth place. Lyon remains stuck in eleventh place.
Without Alexandre Lacazette, forfeited due to a thigh injury since the quarter-final won last Tuesday against Strasbourg (0-0, 4-3 tab), the locals are struggling a little offensively, even if they quickly got themselves a big opportunity, Orel Mangala’s shot failing the Lens post (14th). During the first half hour, the Gones showed some good things, but the conclusion was never there, as in this solitary raid by Ernest Nuamah and this shot deflected by Samba (24th). And it is ultimately the Lensois who will find the fault first just before the break, Florian Sotoca taking advantage of the offering from David Pereira da Costa (0-1, 43rd).
Maitland-Niles sees red
And if the Lyonnais hoped to reverse the situation after returning from the locker room, they quickly became disillusioned since following Maxence Caqueret’s hand in his area, Elye Wahi converted the break penalty for the Sang et Or (0-2, 53rd). A few minutes later, Pierre Sage tried to bring in fresh blood by bringing Rayan Cherki into play. Not really enough to move their opponents. However, they still had some good opportunities, as evidenced by this duel missed by Malick Fofaba against Brice Samba (79th), or this decisive double save by the Lens goalkeeper on a header from Jake O’Brien, followed by an attempt by Ainsley Maitland-Niles (80th).
The Lyon full-back who will once again stand out, but in a bad way this time, since he pushed Wesley Said who was going to challenge Anthony Lopes, enough to collect a direct red card (84th). And definitively weigh down Lyon who conceded a final goal, on a diving header from Kevin Danso (0-3, 87th). A match to quickly forget for Les Gones who remain eleven points behind Europe, and therefore eleven points behind Lens who occupies the last European seat. In a week, they will try to get back on track in Lorient, while Lens will host Brest.
