The Greens have known better context to approach this 120th Derby on the lawn ofOlympique Lyonnais. With a small success over the last ten Ligue 1 games, the men of Claude Puel, 15th in the standings before this 27th day of Ligue 1 with two small points ahead of the red zone, are doubly expected.
A single victory in ten matches on the Greens side
A negative dynamic that will not disturb theASSE according to his trainer: “We are aware of the situation but this is a special match. We forget a little bit about where it is … It’s a date“Even if ASSE has two victories ahead in the history of confrontations against its rival of always.
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Yohan Cabaye he knows what ingredients Greens will have to put to hope for a positive result at Groupama Stadium. A stadium where they never won. The last victory in Lyons dates back to March 2014. At the time, OL were still playing at Gerland: “This match is often played on details. We will have to play with our head, our heart and a lot of determination.“
Without the experience of Perrin, Khazri and Hamouma
Fortunately, the Greens are not in the twentieth as they were going, but the sports situation in Forez has not necessarily improved. Sunday evening, ASSE will also be deprived of Romain Hamouma, Arnaud Nordin and Wahbi Khazri, insufficiently recovered from injury and Mahdi Camara, suspended.
Defense and iconic captain Loïc Perrin also absent, injured, the manager of the Greens has summoned the young defender Marvin Tshibuabua, but also Maxence Rivera in front, and Lucas Gourna-Douath (16) in the midfield.
Unsurprisingly, Ruffier is not on the trip
Stéphane Ruffier he too will not be traveling to Lyon. At the heart of a controversy since last week, the goalkeeper will not return to the Forézien goal for the derby and will leave his place to Jessy Moulin, already holder to go. Information confirmed by Claude Puel: “For this match, the conditions are not required for a return of Stéphane Ruffier in the group. The rest is internal cooking. ”
No psychosis around the coronavirus
Particularity of this OL-ASSE, it will compete in a context marked by the epidemic of coronavirus. Two days after the arrival of Juventus Turin at Groupama Stadium, Claude Puel refuses to worry : “I trust the authorities. We will comply with the decisions that will be made later. If we have to manage to close the stadiums for everyone’s safety, we will have to apply them without any qualms.“Until then, the Greens have a derby to play.
I trust the authorities. We will comply with the decisions that will be made.
Despite the spread of the coronavirus in France, the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, confirmed on Saturday that the match will take place on Sunday at Décines. With some additional precautions. Players will not shake hands before the match, and will not enter the mixed zone for press interviews afterwards.