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Lyon opens the championship with a difficult success against Ajaccio

A painful recovery. Olympique Lyonnais (OL) painfully won at home 2-1 at the expense of promoted Ajaccio (ACA), Friday August 5 at Groupama stadium, in the opening match of the new Ligue 1 season.

Like last season, the “Gones” showed both defensive and offensive deficiencies. The pre-season meetings had not completely dispelled doubts about Lyon’s game, nor about Dutch coach Peter Bosz’s ability to rebound to lead the recovery operation after a disappointing eighth place in L1 last spring, depriving the European Cup club.

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The weaknesses of the rearguard were symbolized by the logical exclusion of goalkeeper Anthony Lopes following a big foul in the box on Mounaïm El Idrissy, after a totally missed and dangerous outing at the half-hour mark. On the action, the central hinge, and in particular Thiago Mendes, was overtaken by the speed of the Ajaccien striker while Thomas Mangani converted the penalty against Rémy Riou, who came into play in place of Lopes.

“We were able to see the importance of Alexandre Lacazette”

While the workforce may still be called upon to change by the end of the transfer window at the end of August, with the possible departures of Houssem Aouar and Lucas Paquetà in particular, i.e. two midfielders out of the three lined up on Friday at kick-off, the problem of the absence of a professional and experienced central defender could well arise.

At that time, the ACA reduced the gap (2-1), after logically conceding two goals against dominating Lyonnais and carried by Alexandre Lacazette who was celebrating, after five years at Arsenal, his return to Groupama stadium of which he was the first scorer on January 9, 2016 against Troyes (4-1).

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After a pass from the young Johann Lepenant, it was he, trained at OL, who served as a deflection to the Brazilian Tetê for the opener in the 11e minutes (1-0). The former Shakhtar Donetsk then obtained a penalty for a foul by Cédric Avinel which allowed Lacazette to bring the score to 2-0 (21e) for his 101e goal with Lyon in Ligue 1.

“We were able to see the importance of Alexandre Lacazette, the respect of the opponent for him, the support of the supporters. It’s a good thing, but he can do better.” analyzed Peter Bosz after the meeting.

A state of grace of barely 21 minutes

The state of grace lasted 21 minutes. Because thereafter, the Lyon game fell apart, allowing the ACA to return to the game, especially at eleven against ten until Romain Hamouma was excluded in turn for a second yellow card in time. add-on from the first period.

And even again tied numerically at ten, Ajaccio was not endangered in the second half, and failed to equalize by Riad Nouri who took over Mendes forcing Riou to intervene effectively (60e).

“I am satisfied with the behavior of the team in general. We hampered Lyon in the construction of their game., stressed Corsican coach Olivier Pantaloni, despite the defeat. ” By playing Lyon against Lyon to begin with, this match will reassure us and allow us to work with more strength and determination to get our first points,” he also encouraged.

For their part, OL proved incapable in the second period of putting the pace in their offensives and only a duel lost by the Argentinian Nicolas Tagliafico against goalkeeper Benjamin Leroy (63e) and an action by Bradley Barcola (86e) created danger on the island goal. The entry of Corentin Tolisso, also back in Lyon this summer after five seasons in Germany at Bayern Munich, has changed nothing a quarter of an hour from the end.

“In the head, we take the penalty, the red and the goal. And in the head, it’s different for our players who above all thought about not taking a second goal and we may have backed off a little too much. judged Peter Bosz, who however started his season better than last year when the Lyonnais were held in check by Brest on the first day at home. But if OL have made a success of their comeback in terms of accounts, they still have work to do.

Kylian Mbappé package

We will have to wait a little longer before seeing Kylian Mbappé return to the field. The PSG striker, injured in the adductors, is forfeited for the trip to Clermont, Saturday at the opening of Ligue 1. He “will remain in care at the training center. A new point will be made in 72 hours”, the club said. As during the Champions Trophy, won against Nantes on Sunday July 31 (4-0), he should be replaced by the Spaniard Pablo Sarabia.

The World with AFP

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