The context
It is also and especially in these moments that you see the soul of a team. Faced with Lille’s adversity and reduced to 10 at the start of the second half, the Lyonnais have never been so tossed about for weeks. They could have cracked, dissociated themselves but they held firm, together and mentally to finally bring back a good draw from the North. More than the point that allows them to stay within reach of the podium and their evening opponent, it is a foolproof temperament that has emerged from this second shock in a row after the very different one because it was full of control against Monaco. In a few days, OL therefore proved that they had everything they need to go even higher.
The challenge
Character and play, these are two ingredients that will certainly count this Sunday for a new major event: a derby, quite simply. Obviously, the excitement during the match will not be comparable to what we have seen in the past, but regional supremacy remains at stake, with significant accounting importance. As OM go to Strasbourg, Rennes to Paris and Nice host Monaco, Rudi Garcia’s side could well take advantage of some of their direct rivals’ missteps if they win against the Greens. It is up to them to do what is necessary and to continue their good momentum.
The adversary
Europe, the podium … a few kilometers from here is really not the concern at the moment. Even though Saint-Etienne is just four points away thanks to a strong start to the season with three straight wins, everything has collapsed since. The Greens, now 13th, remain on a series of five consecutive defeats during which they scored only a small goal … In tumbling towards the red zone for a few weeks during which executives are lacking, ASSE will seek to reassure itself and avoid a deeper crisis.