At Olympique Lyonnais history will remember that the first game of the John Textor era, who officially took control of the club on Monday with his holding company Eagle Football, ended on a positive note, in the absence of a win. The reigning European champion, Lyon, qualified for the quarter-finals of the Women’s Champions League by drawing a match against Juventus Turin (0-0), at the Groupama stadium, during the 6th and final day of the group stage.
This result is enough for the club to finish second in Group C, dominated by Arsenal. For the Lyonnais, who made a terrible start to the competition with a home defeat against Arsenal (5-1) and a draw in Turin against Juve (1-1) before recovering with three consecutive victories, it was important not to lose keep second place and two points ahead of their Italian opponent. The contract is therefore respected.
Christiane Endler never in danger
However, OL has never managed to free itself completely from the stakes, probably with the fear of reliving the same bloody scenario experienced against PSG (1-0) right at the end of the game after a corner kick on 11 December , in the clash of the French championship in which Lyon lost the leadership in this occasion.
Thus, the match, between two harmless formations, was terribly boring, with very few chances. Juventus, opponents who traditionally give the French champions a hard time, have never been able to put OL goalkeeper Christiane Endler in danger.
Offensive shortcomings
Lyon, for their part, however, obtained two excellent chances, without being able to convert them. Eugénie Le Sommer’s header following Alice Sombath’s cross from the right wing was deflected off by French Juve goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin (54) who was well in between Delphine Cascarino’s shot which he then overturned high (55).
In the first half Peyraud-Magnin intervenes easily on a shot from distance by Le Sommer (26′) but also on a header by Vanessa Gilles from a free kick (53′). A very poor offensive record, a major shortcoming for the Lyonnais since the beginning of the season, who have suffered particularly, in this sector, from the prolonged absence of Ada Hegerberg. But the important thing for OL was not to lose to reach the quarterfinals, something a reigning European champion had never missed until now. Lyon now has until March to solve this serious efficiency problem.
