What if the Olympique Lyonnais (OL) season had finally started? After their victory against Toulouse (3-0) last week, the Lyonnais won a second consecutive championship match, for the first time this season, thanks to a goal scored at the end of the match in Monaco (1-0), Friday December 15, during the 16th day of Ligue 1.
If, with 13 points, Lyon is temporarily no longer relegated ? since 16th and play-off, pending the matches of Lorient (17th) against Strasbourg and Clermont (18th) in Marseille ? the Rhone club owes it this time to the quality of its goalkeeper Anthony Lopes, author of a high-level meeting at the Louis-II stadium, as well as the inspired coaching of his new coach Pierre Sage, whose last three entrants were involved in the winning goal.
This is the third time this season that Lyon has come away from a trip with points. Each time with a different coach (Laurent Blanc in Nice, 0-0 during the 3rd day, Fabio Grosso in Rennes, 1-0 during the 12th day). But it seems that the players are responding much more favorably to the directives of the new strong man on the bench.
Monegasque domination
In a 5-1-3-1 defensive system, Pierre Sage’s men held off their opponents, even allowing themselves to sometimes go out on the counterattack. As on the goal refused to Appiah Nuamah, logically signaled offside, while the counter from the Tolisso-Cherki duo had been quality (14th).
Monaco, which dominated the entire match (19 shots to 5), never managed to beat Lopes, reflecting the ineffectiveness of Folarin Balogun, preferred to Wissam Ben Yedder, now a joker. The Lyon goalkeeper intervened with both fists on a strong attempt by the American international striker (12th), then relaxed perfectly on the new recovery from Balogun, served behind by Maghnes Akliouche (37th).
Akliouche again then forced the Portuguese international goalkeeper to divert his low attempt for a corner (41st). To the delight of the sixty Lyon supporters, present at the Stade Louis-II, despite the closure of the visitors area due to their recent behavior in Marseille. In such a wide stadium, with such a sparse audience as that of Monaco, they even managed to make themselves heard. On the other hand, they remained as stunned as their goalkeeper by the shot, which hit the outside of Lyon’s left post, from Monegasque Mohamed Camara (53rd).
“Our trophy of the day”
Monaco, returning with the clear intention of winning their seventh victory in eight home matches this season, then attacked at all costs. But without hitting the target, by Youssouf Fofana (58th and 77th) then Balogun (66th), which also saw Lopes throw himself perfectly on his recovery (67th).
Monegasque coach Adi Hütter then launched Wissam Ben Yedder, but it was Sage’s coaching that paid off. In a lively action, the trio of new entrants Kadewere, Maitland-Niles, Jeffinho played against the Monegasque defense in the 85th minute to offer a success which opens the doors to a season more in line with the ambitions of the club and of its American owner, John Textor, who recalled this week in an interview with Le Monde that the credibility of his investment depends first of all on good sporting results.
“It’s our trophy for the day, I hope we will win another one on Wednesday against Nantes,” said Pierre Sage in reference to the next day of the championship, the last before the winter break.
On the other hand, it is a setback for AS Monaco which, with 30 points, sees Lille, opposed to Paris SG on Sunday, three points in its rearview mirror.
