Olympique Lyonnais received RC Lens this Saturday, on behalf of the twelfth day of Ligue 1. Ninth at kick-off, OL had the opportunity to come back to two points behind their evening opponent, second, in case of victory. Lensois who had known defeat away from home only once against Montpellier (0-1) and who remained on a great victory against Metz (4-1). After a series of four unbeaten matches in the league, including two successes against Troyes (3-1) and Monaco (2-0), the Gones lost last weekend on the lawn of OGC Nice, with three goals conceded in the last ten minutes (2-3). Peter Bosz made only one change in his 4-2-3-1 with Shaqiri in the right lane of the attack, in place of Kadewere, sent off against the Aiglons. For the rest, no surprise, Lopes was in the cages with Emerson, Denayer, Boateng and Dubois in defense. Caqueret and Guimaraes made up the double pivot, while Aouar positioned himself as playmaker, behind Paqueta at the forefront of the attack and Toko Ekambi on the left side. Franck Haise opted for the same starting XI as last week against Metz, with Leca as the last bulwark. Gradit, Danso and Medina formed the central hinge, accompanied by Clauss and Frankowski in pistons. Doucouré and Fofana took their places in front of the defense, while the Saïd-Sotoca-Kalimuendo trio were lined up in attack. The Lyonnais settled in the opposing camp from the first minutes of the meeting, but exposed themselves to cons.
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Sotoca deflected the ball with his head for Kalimuendo on entering the box. The latter served Clauss, whose half volley was released by Boateng on his line. Saïd followed, but his attempt was also rejected, by Denayer this time (12th). OL continued to monopolize the ball, without managing to create clear chances. After a stint with Paqueta, Guimaraes projected himself into the box, pushing Medina to the fault (23rd). Mikaël Lesage, the referee of the match, designated the penalty spot, which Toko Ekambi was responsible for transforming (1-0, 24th). The Bloods and Golds tried to react, always on the counterattack. Saïd sent a nice cross to the far post towards Sotoca, but Denayer defended well and deflected the ball for a corner (31st). On the next action, Clauss thought to equalize, before an offside position was finally signaled (32nd). Lens was more urgent as a result of this action. After a good combination between Kalimuendo and Saïd, Fofana was found at the entrance to the area, but his powerful strike collided with Boateng (40th). In the process, the Gones started against. Leca took a shot from Toko Ekambi from the left of the area, Aouar followed and pushed the ball into the net with the head (2-0, 41st). The two teams parted with this score of 2-0 at the break.
Lens may have regrets
Even if the Lyonnais had overall possession of the ball, Lens could have regrets, because the Sang et Or had the opportunities to return to the locker room with a more favorable score. The Lensois started the second half in the best possible way, but had to bow to an excellent Lopes. Entered at the break in place of Sotoca, Kakuta resumed a cross from Frankowski, which the OL goalkeeper came out of a reflex stop (47th). The latter did not have time to breathe, that Saïd also presented himself in front of his cage. Kakuta fixed the opposing defense before shifting the former Toulouse player, whose strike was still repelled by Lopes (48th). The Gones hoped once again to hurt their opponent against. Toko Ekambi launched Paqueta who sought to deceive Leca with a small dive, but the Lensois goalkeeper was attentive (49th). The two teams surrendered blow for blow in the beginning of the second act and this time it was Frankowski’s turn to bow to Lopes (57th). This led to yet another Lyon counter-attack, after a series of leg passes, Toko Ekambi’s attempt was deflected for a corner by Gradit (58th). The Blood and Gold eventually found the loophole. Following a good movement, Kakuta served Kalimuendo with a clever heel in the box which, out of balance, finally managed to deceive Lopes (2-1, 61st).
A goal that motivated the Lensois even more to return to the score. On the left, Frankowski returned to his right foot and tried to surprise the Lyon goalkeeper with a curled shot, pushed back by the latter (66th). The two teams were cut in two and even if the pace of the match did not fall, neither of the two teams managed to change the score. Despite a last hot situation in their area (89th) and the rise of Leca from a corner (90th + 3), the Lyonnais won and resumed their march forward. With this victory, the Gones go back to fifth place with 19 points, tied with OM, and are one point behind Nice, third. The Sang et Or provisionally retain their second place, before the meetings of tomorrow and in particular the trip of the Marseillais to Clermont and that of the Gym to Angers. On the next day, Olympique Lyonnais will move to the Stade Rennais lawn, the Lensois will host Troyes.
The classification of Ligue 1
The official line-ups at the kick-off
Lyon’s starting XI to face RC Lens! ????????????#OLRCL pic.twitter.com/byhO40hheX
– Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) October 30, 2021
???? Here are the ???????????????? ???????? ???????? that will start facing the@OL !
We take the same and start again. Franck Haise keeps identically the eleven aligned against Metz last Sunday.#SiFierDEtreLensois #OLRCL pic.twitter.com/NuhNaiFTfc
— Racing Club de Lens (@RCLens) October 30, 2021
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