Lyon Set to Challenge Lille for Champions League Spot after Recent Victories

After Brest, after Monaco, Lille is on the list. OL are planning to bring down a new contender for the Champions League by traveling North on Monday night (9pm). And the club will be able to gain complete confidence after the success against the Finistériens (4-3, April 14) and Le Rocher players (3-2, April 28). Even though Paris Saint-Germain was too strong in the meantime (4-1, April 21). Nevertheless, Pierre Sage’s players showed that they were now able to take down the “big guys”, which they are slowly starting to run down in the rankings.

And to do this, Olympique Lyonnais relies on an exciting game. And the Mastiffs coach won’t say otherwise. “After PSG, they have the best team in the competition. They also made a big investment in January and have made great progress with Pierre Sage“, suggested Paulo Fonseca in a pre-match press conference.

Like Monaco, which they managed to bring down, the Lyonnais are responsible for playing forward. Quick attacks, transitions and technical wings. “We also scored a lot of goals. I like the wonderful side of the game, but we also need to improve the defense to find a better balance“, marveled Pierre Sage, the architect of the club’s promotion to Ligue 1 and the thunderous start to 2024 (the second best team behind PSG since January).

“The individual quality of Lyon’s players is magnificent. You have to be careful about this. In the last thirty meters, they are the stronger teame, coach Lille continued. They are also good in transitions, probably the strongest team in FranceIt has to be said that the Gones are responsible for some impressive winter offensive troops. Like the now familiar Saïd Benrahma who put on a show on his left against Monaco. caviar before he scored his goal.

Everything is far from perfect on the banks of the Rhône, as an alternating current environment and crustal protection, which is not always targeted. This is what allowed Wissam Ben Yedder to open the scoring last weekend after just a few seconds. “In every game, we create more than 10 or 15 clear chances. Not every team can say the sameannounced Nemanja Matic ahead of the trip to Lille. The games are often open. Sometimes we want to protect without surrender, but sometimes that is impossible. We will try to improve on this point“.

Defense is a real black spot (9 goals conceded in last 3 matches). And yet, teammates often get through. They even collected 16 points after trailing since Pierre Sage took over. “A game is never a decision, and there is always hope, we must be ready to seize opportunities and turn difficult situations around“, summed up the technician.

“The coaching was convincing in several games. Sometimes the changes made by the cultivators had a big impact, showing their worth“, He continued. He was against Monaco to free OL against Monaco the day before, the 19-year-old has fire in his legs, and he participates in the second this wonderful part of the season.