AS Saint-Etienne : OL-ASSE: the match notes

For this closing match of the tenth day, Olympique Lyonnais hosted AS Saint-Etienne at Groupama Stadium for a highly anticipated derby. Author of an interesting draw in Lille last Sunday (1-1), the Gones wanted to win to get closer to the podium again. On the Stéphanois side, the objective remained clear: to bring something back from this trip to the Rhône to stop the bleeding (five consecutive defeats in Ligue 1). For this derby, Rudi Garcia aligned a 4-3-3 and could count on the return of Jason Denayer in central hinge. Claude Puel relied on a 4-2-3-1 with the only Charles Abi in attack.

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The meeting got off to a good start and ASSE got the first thrill of the evening. On a free kick hit by Aouchiche, Camara saw his shot repelled by Lopes (2nd). Tactically disciplined, the Greens obtained a new opportunity by Bouanga whose strike was returned from the foot by Lopes (13th). During the first half hour, OL were clearly hampered by the density and aggressiveness of the Stéphanois in the game. We had to wait for the 39th to see Lyon’s first opportunity. Moukoudi lost the ball which benefited Aouar who lost his duel against Moulin.

The decisive entry of Kadewere

In the process, Denis Bouanga saw his head pushed back by Lopes (40th). Not enough to discourage the Stéphanois who opened the scoring. Bouanga shifted to the left dropped Guimaraes and deceived Lopes with a center shot (0-1, 41st). The match got carried away and Toko Ekambi stumbled over Moulin (42nd). Upon returning from the locker room, Rudi Garcia tried to breathe new life into his team with the entries of Thiago Mendes, Paqueta and Kadewere (56th). OL finally got an opportunity in this second act with Depay well served by Dubois who stumbled on Moulin (62nd). OL stuck to the score a few moments later. On a free kick mischievously played by Depay, Cornet on the left centered for Kadewere who with a Madjer equalized (1-1, 65th). The Gones were pushing to take the lead.

Caqueret shifted Kadewere who put back for Caqueret. The ball returned to the feet of Toko Ekambi whose rolled up died on the upright of Moulin (71st). In a strong moment, Rudi Garcia’s men took the advantage. Kadewere on the left performed a small number and dropped Camara before deceiving Moulin in a closed angle (2-1, 74th). Far from surrendering, the Greens missed the equalizer. On the right, Khazri centered for Hamouma whose strike was pushed back on his line by Lopes (76th). At the end of the match, AS Saint-Etienne obtained a penalty after consulting the VAR. Following a cross from Rivera, Jean Lucas touched the ball with his hand in its area (87th). But Denis Bouanga missed his attempt (88th). In added time, Paqueta distilled an offering for Toko Ekambi who crushed his strike too much (90 + 5). Thanks to this fourth success of the season, Olympique Lyonnais climbed to fifth place in the standings.

Find the film of the match on our live commentary.

Man of the Match: Kadewere (unrated): entered in the 56th minute, the person took advantage of an excellent cross from Cornet to equalize a Madjer (1-1, 65th). The former Le Havre treats by dropping Camara and cheating Moulin in a mouse hole to afford the double (2-1, 74th). His entry into play totally changed the course of the game. Generous, the Zimbabwean striker has also worked a lot on the left side. The person surely scored points this evening with Rudi Garcia.

Olympique Lyonnais

Lopes (6.5): the Lyon goalkeeper did not take long to enter the match. The interested party saves his family on a point blank header from Camara (2nd). The Lusitanian international kept his own in the match by pushing back a shot from Bouanga (13th). Highly visible, the goalkeeper is still in the parade on a point blank header from Bouanga (40th). But the last Lyon rampart must surrender on a center shot from Bouanga (0-1, 41st). He anticipates a cross from the Stéphane striker which causes his poor positioning on goal. Catch up well by pushing back a shot from Hamouma in the last quarter of an hour of the match (77th).
Dubois (6): the former Nantes man did not lack determination, quite the contrary. But he often seemed on the verge of breaking up despite his generosity in the game. His offensive contribution was limited in the first act. Much more to his advantage in the second half as well in his defensive interventions as in his offensive initiatives. Like his good service for Depay (62nd) which could have been decisive.
Denayer (5.5): for his return to competition, the Belgian central defender is trapped by Aouchiche’s free kick which brings the opportunity for Camara (2nd). The Red Devil finds himself in difficulty on the occasion of Bouanga (13th). If his start to the match was sluggish, he picked up the thread later with his good positioning and judicious interventions. The Belgian international held the house tonight.
Diomandé (6): just like his partner Denayer, the young defender was surprised by the good free kick from Aouchiche which provokes the action of Camara (2nd). He recovered well thereafter, especially in his interventions, and thanks to his good reading of the game. The number two Rhone has strived to revive properly. A promising performance for the Ivorian tonight.
Cornet (5.5): Positioned in the left lane of the Lyon defense, the person makes a good intervention to cut the race of Abi (14th). Unfortunately for him, the physiognomy of the first half did not allow him to project forward. His excellent center allows Kadewere to equalize for OL (1-1, 65th). Rather solid defensively tonight. Replaced at the 78th through Bard
Caqueret (6.5): the young Lyon player tried to be voluntary, especially in the construction of the game. But just like his partners in the middle, he was rather well muzzled by his opponents in the first act. Upon returning from the locker room, the midfielder was much more to his advantage. Very active, he often creates gaps on the occasions of his team. Very present also in the recovery of the ball. A meeting with two faces. Replaced at the 84th through Jean Lucas who committed the irreparable in its area (87th). Fortunately, without consequence for his team.
Guimaraes (4,5): the Brazilian midfielder did not have his usual influence in the midfield in the first half. Blame it on Stéphane’s aggressiveness but also on the density present in the middle. The person concerned is deposited by Bouanga on the opening of the score of the Greens (0-1, 41st). Warned at 50th. Replaced at the 56th through Package who showed a lot of determination on the pitch. Warned at the 83rd. Author of a nice rush in added time and an excellent cross for Toko Ekambi (90 + 5).
Aouar (4): ghostly for more than thirty minutes, the Lyon community loses its duel in front of Moulin (39th). A turning point in the match since in the wake, the Greens will open the scoring by Bouanga (0-1, 40th). A little more active at the end of the first act and at the start of the second period, the number eight Rhone must leave his family prematurely due to injury. Replaced at the 55th through Thiago mendes who made a rather discreet entry. Warned at the 90 + 7.
Toko Ekambi (6.5): very restless on the front of the attack, the Cameroonian striker tried a lot and hit especially on the right. The former Villarreal player was undoubtedly the most dangerous Lyonnais in the first forty-five minutes. The person concerned sees his shot well captured by Moulin just before the break (42nd). Very enterprising, his curled shot crashes on the post of Moulin (71st). The Indomitable Lion battered the Stéphane defense tonight. He misses the inevitable on a nice serve from Paqueta (90 + 5).
Dembélé (4): Established in place of Kadewere, the former Celtic player experienced difficulties against the Stéphane defense in the first act. He did not weigh as expected on the rearguard of the Greens. An evening to forget for the attacker as the frustration was great. Replaced at the 56th through Kadewere who takes advantage of an excellent cross from Cornet to equalize a Madjer (1-1, 65th). The former Havre treats by depositing Camara and by deceiving Moulin in a mouse hole to afford the double (2-1, 74th). His entry into play totally changed the course of the game. Generous, the Zimbabwean striker has also worked a lot on the left side.
Depay (4.5): the Lyon captain tried to take initiatives by going down in the middle to touch the balloons. Unfortunately for him, he encountered varying fortunes in his efforts during the first act. The Dutch international is behind the Lyon equalizer. His shift for Cornet on the free kick surprises the Stéphane defense (1-1, 65th). A rather disappointing match for the number ten Rhone, who oscillated between the good and the less good this evening.

AS Saint-Etienne

Mill (4,5): if he had no parry to perform during the first act, he was however very happy to see Dembélé twice, being signaled offside after having found the back of the net each time (11th, 31st ). His match really started shortly before the break when he disgusted Aouar by winning his first face to face of the evening. If he saves his family again in front of Depay on the hour mark, he is nevertheless beaten by Kadewere with a sublime Madjer, before seeing the Zimbabwean cheat him a second time (74th).
Camara (5): not far from opening the score from the start with a sharp header, which however lacked the power to deceive the vigilance of Lopes (2nd), the right side of the evening was the author of a good number defensive interventions (13th, 20th, 43rd). He saves his people in the most beautiful way twice in front of Dembélé who found himself alone against Moulin (27th), then with the tip of his foot on a shot from the French striker (43rd). But his evening turned into a nightmare at a quarter of an hour from the end when he was dropped by Kadewere on the second goal of the Lyon (74th).
Moukoudi (4.5): Often taken behind his back and speed by the liveliness of the Lyon attackers on their few offensives in the first act, the Franco-Cameroonian central defender was however happy to see them not bring goals. The second half was however better for him, at the origin of some valuable good interventions (61st, 71st, 72nd).
Kolodziejczak (4.5): not very worried in the first period, the player trained at OL was however much later in the second as the awakening of the Lyonnais was long in coming. But Garcia’s changes destabilized a defense that was firmly in place in the first act. He still intervened quite well on several occasions in the second act, especially in front of Toko Ekambi (82nd).
Trauco (4): the Peruvian left side was not very visible tonight. If he was not worried in the first period as the Lyonnais were non-existent, like the whole of the defense, he suffered the awakening of the latter, inspired by the entries into play of Kadewere, Paqueta, and Mendes.
Youssouf (4,5): very comfortable technically with the ball at the foot, the French attacking midfielder, twirling on his right side, did not hesitate to give his person this evening, repeating intensive races on numerous occasions. However, not enough to make any real differences in the last few meters. Replaced in the 79th by Rivera.
Gourna (4): the youngest player present on the pitch this evening (17 years old) put a lot of envy this evening, sometimes even too much, quickly committing a lot of faults (25th, 30th, 53rd). Lucky to see one of his partners getting a yellow card in his place on his third foul of the evening. Replaced in the 79th by Moueffek.
Neyou (6): Except for a lost ball from the start (7th), the Cameroonian midfielder put a lot of impact and envy into the battle in the middle despite the poor experience of the Stéphanois duo. He even dared to try his luck at more than 20 meters, but his shot narrowly escaped the frame (49th). But his biggest performance of the evening took place in the 71st when he miraculously saved his people from a tackle slipped on Caqueret (71st).
Bouanga (5): on a nice breakthrough on the left side, the Greens striker found himself alone against Lopes, but saw the latter win this duel (13th). Shortly before the break, if he was sickened by Lopes on his first attempt, he did not let go and deceived the vigilance of the Portuguese, allowing his team to lead the score at the break (41st). If he shot a lot tonight, he was never rewarded, even missing the equalizer penalty three minutes from time (88th).
Aouchiche (4): if he has at times shown desire and involvement in his left lane, the player trained in Paris Saint-Germain has not however really weighed on the Lyon defense, except for a few drastic percussions. Replaced in the 67th by Hamouma who had the opportunity to offer the draw to his team, in vain, Lopes kept watch as usual.
Abi (5): voluntary and combative on the front of the attack in the first act, the French striker of 20 years is not far from opening the scoring twice. First of all following superb air control where he lacked lucidity in the last gesture (14th), then on a header which this time found the net, however refused for a fault on Denayer ( 37th). Less prominent in the second half. Replaced in the 75th by Khazri who did not make any differences.