A victory for Saint-Etienne and a defeat for Lyon in their last 17 matches: the 122nd derby between the two rival clubs, tonight (9 p.m.), opposes two formations with opposite trajectories, but subject to the same pressure of the result.
The Lyonnais have the opportunity to tip the scales (wins / losses) in their favor tonight against a Saint-Etienne side decimated by the absentees (AFP photo).
After two defeats in Reims (3-1) and Strasbourg (1-0), ASSE has only four points ahead of the barrage Nîmes, before the 21st day of Ligue 1. Sixteenth in the standings, the Greens will fight until ‘at the end for the maintenance. About sixty kilometers away, Lyon settled on the podium, but its surprise setback against Metz (1-0) last weekend, made it fall from first to third place, behind PSG and Lille. The autumn champion must quickly revive, especially as the PSG temporarily took five lengths in advance by winning against Montpellier Friday (4-0). But the two clubs are advancing towards this turning point without their best assets. “Seven of our players remain or are positive, and will be unavailable” warned the general manager of Saint-Etienne, Claude Puel. The latter relies on the spirit of the derby that the young people they intend to align have maintained during their training with the confrontations against OL. “We are children of the club and we know the importance of the derby for our supporters to whom it brings a lot, because we have lived from it since we were very young. It gives us an extraordinary desire ”, admitted midfielder Mahdi Camara, 22.
In this health context, on the side of OL, the suspension of the playing master, Lucas Paqueta, and the uncertainties over Houssem Aouar and Maxence Cornet seem derisory but coach Rudi Garcia wants to avoid the trap of the debate of the diminished opponent .
OL on its guard
Only victory should count, especially since the Gones have to react, in an ultra-tight title race. The Lyon technician keeps in mind the first leg in which “His team had suffered against ASSE who led 1-0 and were very good collectively”. The Greens had also missed a penalty at the very end of the game which would have allowed them to equalize at 2-2. OL were thus able to continue to start their climb in the standings, and Saint-Etienne their tumble with six consecutive defeats. This 122nd edition can mark the switch in favor of Lyon for the first time since 1956 when the two clubs are perfectly tied (44 wins each and 33 draws).
Nice finally regains victory in Lens
Brilliant in Marseille on Wednesday, Lens fell back into its pitfalls, beaten by Nice (1-0) who finally won after a month of scarcity and doubts, yesterday during the 21st day of Ligue 1.
The Aiglons, who remained on three defeats and two draws, won thanks to a goal scored by Youcef Atal early in the second half (49th). The Azuréens offer themselves some air, and temporarily one more place in the standings (13th, 26 points). RCL have confirmed their current struggles at home, where they have won only one of their last seven matches. Rouen’s players Franck Haise, however, remain seventh with 31 units on the clock. The first period was quite closed with two teams well in place on both sides. As soon as the resumption, the Nice did not let their chance pass by opening the scoring on their first situation: served in the box by Kasper Dolberg, Atal eliminated an opposing defender before concluding with a clear strike from the left which went nestle in the opposite small net (0-1, 49th). The Algerian international, who injured his right thigh on the action, had to leave his partners just after his goal. The Artesians tried to react by being more offensive, but struggled to approach Walter Benitez’s goal. Nice managed to keep their advantage without shaking too much against almost harmless Lensois.