Showered by Lille, OL plunges back into its doubts

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By: Manu Tournoux

Olympique Lyonnais lost against Lille this Sunday evening at the end of the 13th day of Ligue 1 (0-2). A worrying result for the Rhone club, which does not leave its place of red lantern.

Make no mistake: it took much more than a narrow success against another team filled with doubt, before the break, in Rennes (1-0), for the Lyon sky to clear in the freezing cold of this late autumn. Immersed in its uncertainties and haunted by this place of red lantern, the formation of Fabio Grosso still had its work to do when it came time to welcome Lille, this Sunday evening, in a poster more attractive on paper than anything else, this season.

However, a wind of optimism seemed to run through the Lyon ranks for a very specific reason: a success could allow the Rhone club to leave this damn eighteenth place by taking advantage of Clermont’s large setback against Lens, the day before (0- 3). The carrot was beautiful. But the step was high, too, in view of the adversary. Although less attractive than last season, LOSC remains a big player in this Ligue 1. Its more pragmatic and calculating approach could even make the Lyonnais fear the worst, so often weighed down by their naivety this season.

OL can’t do it

With Lacazette launched from the kick-off, Grosso tried to counterbalance significant absences in other sectors of the game, such as that of Lepenant, injured, or Tagliafico, suspended. This tactical balance of power was contested and intense. OL tried to take control of the game in sequences, as if torn between the need to thrill the match and the reality of the moment. Opposite, Paulo Fonseca’s gang proceeded with rapid attacks to undermine the Lyon defense. And in this little game, it was the Mastiffs who did badly.

More effective on both surfaces, more mature in match management, Lille applied their plan to exploit the largesse of the Lyon defense. After an encouraging first quarter of an hour for the Gones, Jonathan David showered the Groupama Stadium by exploiting a deep service from Yazici to finish alone (0-1, 27th).

A highlight that looks like a turning point. Since in the process, Lille made the break through Tiago Santos, author of a powerful shot in the top corner after a bad full-axis restart (0-2, 32nd). An ideal configuration for the visitors, who managed this advantage with intelligence during a choppy and electric second act, where the Lyon public openly mocked their protégés, who were nevertheless willing but without spring, as time passed. . Lacazette, for his part, had left his place at the break, as if Grosso had to choose between his two most dangerous offensive players… With this result, Lille climbed to the foot of the podium. OL plunges back into its abyss.

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