From the beginnings of a king. Landed in Lyon in January from Real Madrid on a dry loan until the end of the season, Endrick wasted no time in adapting to his new playing field: Ligue 1. After scoring against Lille (1-2) in the Coupe de France for his debut in France, the 19-year-old striker stood out in his first championship match by making an assist against Brest last weekend (2-1).
This Sunday, the Brazilian crack left his mark on Les Gones’ winning trip to Metz (2-5), scoring a hat-trick on the pitch at the Saint-Symphorien stadium, the first of his young career. Small dive from the left above the goalkeeper (11th), perfectly negotiated face-to-face (45th + 1) and perfect counterattack from a penalty (87th): the defector from Real Madrid demonstrated the variety of his palette to allow OL to achieve their eighth consecutive success in all competitions.
“Put it in the best conditions”
Chance or destiny, the last player to have scored at least three goals in his first three matches under the Rhone colors is none other than Mariano Diaz, also loaned by the Madrid giant in the summer of 2017.
“He brings us a lot, he’s a very explosive player, who has a lot of qualities,” admitted Clinton Mata, his teammate, at the Ligue 1 + microphone after the game. “We make sure to put it in the best conditions so that it offers us good services.”
And now ? With three goals in two games, Endrick is already only six pawns behind the podium of top scorers in Ligue 1. What is there to dream of a crazy end to the season in statistical terms? First element of response next Sunday during a top-of-the-table clash against LOSC.
