Olympique Lyonnais and AS Saint-Étienne meet for a fiery derby but in an austere atmosphere. Indeed, unless there is good news, the Groupama Stadium will be almost behind closed doors, as against Paris. This will not prevent the two great enemies of French football from having a special meeting. Especially since, between the first leg and now, the positions in the standings have not changed.
Between OL and ASSE, the points in common are rare. At the moment, the two clubs are together in the galley. The ranking illustrates the bad patch that Rhône-Alpes football is going through with its two biggest regional clubs. On the ASSE side, the ranking illustrates all the structural weaknesses and on the green rectangle of a club in great decline, and without a captain.
For OL, it is a weakened Jean-Michel Aulas who puts his club in a delicate situation. This is why the trajectory of the two clubs is similar except for a few details. This derby will be expensive.
From an accounting point of view, Lyon will have to be reassured. Both on the game and his ambition, Peter Bosz’s men no longer have the right to leave points on the way. Against their best enemy, the Gones will have to show real efficiency.
OL, a sick club that no longer has a joker
If the match in Troyes did not give great satisfaction, OL had the merit of rediscovering certain principles of play. It is too little. We saw satisfaction, around Caqueret and Lukeba, but always questions about Aouar and Dembélé. The conclusion is clear: OL still have a lot of work to do to rediscover the spirit of the game which was its strength between September and October.
Except that Lyon has no more time to lose. The three points against its neighbor from Saint-Etienne will be imperative to get closer to the podium. Especially since he still has his match against Marseille. One more opportunity than his opponents to take points.
Lyon has every chance of winning Friday night if it puts the ingredients against the red lantern. First, to rest on his spine which is taking shape. Lopes, Lukeba, Caqueret and Guimaraes. These four players have taken a very special place in Bosz’s system.
Except that, seized up, Lyon cannot rely on Aouar and Dembélé, unable to return to their level after two Ligue 1 games. The derby would allow them to revive
Lyon 1950 responds to OL after a banner
When an institution is in crisis, it is the non-sporting domain that takes over. This afternoon, the “Lyons 1950″ sent an ironic and somewhat aggressive banner. A spade that OL did not fail to denounce in a very particular match context. ” They are in agony, finish them off.” headlined the banner.
The club’s communication reacted immediately to reframe its supporters. After the Paris Fc incidents, OL let nothing pass. The reverse of “Lyon 1950” came in the evening. In front of the OL Store at Groupama Stadium, the South Bend group denounced the club’s press release.
OL are very sick but the Lion is not yet dead before facing the Saint-Etienne panther.