Lyon and Nantes postpone their fight

Olympique Lyonnais 1-1 FC Nantes

Goals: Lacazette (24^e) for OL // Lukeba (CSC, 2^e) for the NCF

It was an aperitif before the semi-final of the Coupe de France and we can say that the suspense remains intact: Lyon and Nantes, two teams with soft stomachs yet separated by eleven points in the standings, have not managed to to decide this Friday evening in the capital of Gaul (1-1), the fault of two solid doormen and an issue which did not excite many people. We weren’t that far from seeing a good game, but the last half hour basically ruined everything. See you in three weeks, therefore, with the obligation to find a winner.

The two minutes of the people

It’s sometimes simple, football: Maxence Caqueret attacked by a big tackle from Andrei Girotto in the central circle, Mostafa Mohamed left in a boulevard to stumble on Rémy Riou and cause a ricochet on Castello Lukeba, and the visitors launched the debates only one minute 20 after kick-off, as if the concept of the clear goal was still relevant (0-1, 2^e). Totally confiscating the swelling to avenge this affront, OL – a decidedly reactionary team – started playing ball, for real. And, head in the handlebars after a good movement orchestrated by Corentin Tolisso (18^e), Alexandre Lacazette quickly set the target: just after a new collective demonstration and a heat stroke by the sparkling Saël Kumbedi (23^e), the Lyon captain knocked down the ogre Nicolas Pallois, on a ball from above, and aligned Alban Lafont closely (1-1, 24^e). In response, on a free kick from Florent Mollet, Mohamed forced Riou to a new parade, without Lukeba coming to conclude this time (35^e).

150 – Author of his 150th goal with OL, Alexandre Lacazette is now the second top scorer in the history of Lyon in all competitions, behind Fleury Di Nallo (222), overtaking Bernard Lacombe (149). General. #OLFCN pic.twitter.com/CEFhxWZLWZ

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) March 17, 2023

Just before the break, again found by Tolisso, the General missed the double by hitting the Nantes goalkeeper, then in the small net (45^e+1). Once the change of side made, Riou managed a kamikaze exit in front of Guessand (50^e), and Lafont was just as solid against Caqueret (53^e). On a crazy action from Mollet, Mohamed was not far from making the powder speak for good (55^e). The entry of His Majesty Rayan Cherki before the hour mark allowed the Rhodaniens to resume their conquest, but this did not bear fruit. And the only times the Parc OL really shouted afterwards was to jeer Moussa Dembélé and especially Houssem Aouar, for whom we reserved a Marseillaise as a reaction to his choice to join the Algerian selection. Olympique Lyonnais is decidedly unique. And he is still tenth in Ligue 1.

OL (4-3-3): Riou – Kumbedi, Lovren, Lukeba, Tagliafico – Lepenant (Aouar, 74^e), Tolisso (T. Mendes, 74^e), Caqueret (Cherki, 58^e) – Barcola, Lacazette (c) (Dembélé, 65^e), A. Sarr (Jeffinho, 58^e). Coach : Laurent Blanc.

FCN (4-2-3-1): Lafont (c) – J. Victor, Castelletto, Pallois, Centonze (Hadjam, 36^e) – Sissoko (Moutoussamy, 67^e), Girotto–Guessand (Corchia, 84^e), Mollet, Simon (Blas, 68^e) – Mohamed (Delort, 68^e). Coach : Antoine Kombouare.

Laurent Blanc: “We haven’t gone far from disaster”