Six days before the start of the 2022/23 season with the opening match of the new Ligue 1 exercise against AC Ajaccio (Friday August 5, 9 p.m.), Olympique Lyonnais ended its summer preparation this Saturday evening with a friendly match against Inter at the Stadio Dino Manuzzi in Cesena. The objective was clear for Les Gones: finish this pre-season in style after 3 wins for as many defeats. The Nerazzurri, they remained on a setback against RC Lens, after suffering a draw and recording a victory at the very start of preparation. On the Rhone side, Peter Bosz started in a 4-3-3 with Aouar in midfield and Tagliafico’s big first as left-back. Simone Inzaghi lined up a big team with Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez at the forefront.
In a match that was only friendly in name, the twenty-two players fought a big battle whether in midfield or elsewhere. The intensity was present just like the aggressiveness, a little too much sometimes. From the start of the game, Lukaku lit the first fuse of the head but Lopes captured the leather (3rd). Lyon’s response then came with an almost on target free kick from Lucas Paqueta (7th) before a cannonball from Tete repelled by Onana (15th). There were chances on both sides but the Nerazzurri managed to approach the opposing area more easily, and it took a big Lopes to save his team (26th). Dimarco saw his shot narrowly escape the frame (29th) in a Milan highlight but in the end, Les Gones opened the scoring.
OL can harbor regrets
On a long opening, Lacazette then made his connection with Paqueta work and the Brazilian found the Frenchman in the box who concluded with a header for the first goal of this game (31st, 0-1). Behind, the tension rose a notch and the referee had a lot of work, while Gusto found him the post on a counter flash (43rd). Inter therefore did well but OL were in front at the break. When they returned from the locker room, the Lyonnais quickly took the break. After a post from Paqueta, the leather returned to Cherki, who came into play at half-time, who scored with the help of the post (49th, 0-2). OL then thought they had done the hardest part but behind, Inter quickly revived this game.
On a magnificent cross from Dimarco, Lukaku imposed his physique (a little too much?) to score with a header in a duel with Tagliafico (51st, 1-2). What followed was difficult for OL who were suffering but Lopes made a superb save on a helmet hit from Martinez (60′). Unfortunately, the Portuguese goalkeeper could not do anything then on the Milan equalizer. After an excellent job, Martinez launched Barella who, with a dive ball, put the ball in the back of the net (65th, 2-2). The meeting was then interrupted by the many changes and Dembélé, who had just made his appearance, fell on a huge Onana who deflected his head on the crossbar (78th). Barcola’s shot was not on target (85th) and the score was no longer changing. At the end of a very pleasant match, Nerazzurri and Gones therefore parted back to back (2-2).
