Olympique Lyonnais has certain reasons to be worried when facing Manchester United in the quarterfinals of the Europa League. Consequence of the history between the two teams. In four games against the Red Devils, OL did not win the slightest match, having to settle for two draws for two defeats.
After a first confrontation during the group stage in 2004, Lyon had thus found Man U in the winter of 2008 in the round of 16. A duel concluded on a qualification of the Mancunians after a draw (1-1) in Gerland and a short Lyon defeat in Old Trafford (1-0). However, the confrontation remained in the memories for the goal scored by Karim Benzema in the first leg.
Served at the entrance to the penalty area, the young Lyonnais (20 years old) opens the scoring on a shot at floss with a splendid sequence against Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. A goal that allows him to get into a new dimension and stirs up the lusts of the biggest European clubs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2g6yc-qgjk
“It was a big pleasure at once, I was super happy. Already because it was the Champions League, then because it was Manchester United opposite ”said the Ballon d'Or 2022 in the columns of the Team, adding:
“It is sure that this goal remained, since we talk about it so long after. Me, I remember that I was very happy because it was the Vidic-Ferdinand hinge, the best in the world, with the best goalkeeper in the world at the time … So that's especially what I had in mind after marked. »»
Karim Benzema left OL a year later
Thanks to this goal, Karim Benzema changes his status and brings together across the Channel. “NOuveau Zinédine Zidane »,, “Mixture of Ronaldinho and Ronaldo”,, “Greater hope for European football”…: These are the comments in the English press which reveals that Alex Ferguson did not hesitate to speak with the young attacker in the corridors of Gerland.
“” This is the reference for selectors, it is the reference for recruiters. When the players perform in these matches, we know that they can go to the higher scale, “said Alain Perrin to Eurosport. If Olympique Lyonnais will manage to keep it the following summer
