Posted by Pierre Ménès December 19, 2020
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Three meetings at the end of the year in cannonball. In the opening game at 5 p.m., Metz beat a blunt Lens side. Even if the Sang et Or rather dominated and held the ball, they lacked too much freshness and precision. The first Lorraine goal was scored by Nguette on a blocked ball – Leca was on it otherwise – and the second by the excellent Boulaya with a nice cross strike at the end of the match. We talk a lot about Lens, because he’s promoted and because it’s Lens. But we can see that in the standings, there is only one point difference between the two teams and Metz also has an interesting course, especially knowing the big problems that have affected the club in the offensive sector between the injury to Niane and the sale of Diallo to Strasbourg in the last days of the transfer window.
At 7 p.m., a mentally exhausted OM was held in check at the Vélodrome by Reims. The Champenois opened the scoring without having shot a goal against his Nagatomo camp. The Marseillais equalized in the stoppage of play of the first period by Thauvin, on receipt of a delivery from the head of Benedetto concluding a nice movement. After the rest, the Villas-Boas players tried but did not have the energy to force the Reims lock. The problem in Marseille is that the danger can only come from very targeted players. When they are more or less controlled, it becomes much harder for OM, which has therefore only taken one point in two games this week.
And then in the evening, Lyon very easily dominated a Nice team which, whether coached by Vieira or Ursea, is still cut by five holders and still commits as many monumental blunders in defense. Lyon’s first goal comes from a penalty uselessly conceded by Nsoki. The second on a pass from Boulaya directly to Kadewere at the entrance to the surface. On the third, all the defense throws themselves on the laser pass from Depay to Kadewere which offers the goal to Toko-Ekambi. And to top it off, Benitez is located in the center of Dubois and offers the fourth to Aouar. You can’t win a match against a team of Lyon’s level being so weak defensively.
Again, whether it’s Vieira or Ursea, this team is orphaned by Dante’s sense of placement and aura. And when in addition Schneiderlin, Lees-Melou and Dolberg are missing, it’s too much for a team where the other recruits are terribly disappointing, apart from Gouiri who scored against his former club. On the Lyon side, the environment and the attack gave full satisfaction and I hope that the Rhone residents will not lose Memphis in a few days. His departure would be a disaster for the club the year when OL are in a position to play the title.
Pierrot
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