It is with the pressure of the very good operations carried out earlier in the day, by Lille and Monaco, that OL approached their evening mission against the promoted Lensois.
Rudi Garcia’s men needed a victory to regain their place on the podium, but their performance was too poor to obtain it.
After the first twenty minutes of sterile domination, translated by a single opportunity, poorly concluded by Mendes, following a pressing from Memphis on Leca (12th), they began to let their opponents return to the game.
The Lyonnais had not done enough to unbalance an opponent, ultimately more convincing by his direct play. A counter from Kakuta, followed by an attempt by Sotoca, out of frame (20th), set the tone, then Fofana in turn created danger in the area, only stopped after a telescoping with Denayer (24th).
A goal denied to Lens by the VAR
Lens had thought to open the scoring on a shot from Doucouré deflected by Sotoca, following an error by Lopes, countered by Fofana following a touch back from Dubois. But the goal had been invalidated by the VAR because it was with the arm that Sotoca had involuntarily deflected the ball (34th).
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The Lyon goalkeeper had done rather well, and was more decisive a few minutes later by stopping in two stages, a heavy strike from Clauss, shortly before Haidara completely missed a volley at close range on a new Lensoise push. (44th).
It will be understood, the OL had come close to the correctional. Despite a final opportunity for Memphis, stumbling over Gradit a few inches from the line, after lacking spontaneity on a good serve from Kadewere, the disappointment was real in view of this first period.
More had to be done, and OL would finally put more pressure on the accelerator. Twice Leca was intractable in front of Toko Ekambi, first of all, well served by Guimaraes (56th), then against Kadewere (63rd).
Paqueta equalizes 10 minutes from the end
Two wasted opportunities that the Lyonnais would regret, since, a handful of seconds later, Lens found the opening … between the legs of Lopes, by the untenable Clauss, served in the back of the defense by Kakuta (65th).
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As in Reims last month, OL seemed to be heading for defeat, and had to rebel before the verdict fell.
This time, it is ten minutes from the end, that the Memphis teammates saved the furniture, by equalizing by Paqueta, with an acrobatic recovery on a ball poorly cleared by the Lensoise defense, unbalanced by Cherki.
In this match hesitating to offer itself to a winner depending on the ultimate thrusts of the Lensois and Lyonnais, the score no longer changed, and OL, now 4th in the standings, may have some reason to blame themselves. .
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