For PSG, handicapped by its two draws in Le Havre (2-2) and against Montpellier (2-2), for eight wins, defeat against leaders Lyon this Sunday (21:00) at the Groupama stadium seems forbidden , during the 11And women’s day D1.
In the event of a setback, the Parisians would in fact have to compensate for a difference of five points on the second leg.
“Of course, it would give us a comfortable leeway in this championship where everything is tight,” underlined the Inter coach Lyon, Sonia Bompastor. “But we lost points against the bottom side, Guingamp (0-0). So nothing will be final,” she recalls.
OL, despite the numerous injuries to senior players that have decimated its squad since this summer, have still won nine games, the last one against Dijon (8-0).
Bompastor: “There is no such thing as an easy game”
“Against Paris Saint-Germain, defensively, you have to be solid,” warns Bompastor. “We’ve worked well, we face this match with serenity and confidence but also respect for PSG, a great opponent,” he said.
“Paris, with a good coach who has passed LyonGérard Prêcheur, has collective qualities and individuality, especially in the center and in attack ”, he warns again.
“There are no easy games at Olympique Lyonnais, the opponents arrive with more determination. It is up to us to always maintain the requirement as we emerge from a complicated period that has strengthened us individually and collectively,” says Captain Wendie Renard.
“We’re starting to find the OL that I love, even though we still have a lot to do,” she rejoices, too.
Programming in questions
The scheduling of this shocker, which is supposed to promote French women’s football, is questionable: on a Sunday evening at 21, with negative temperatures announced, when the famous Festival of Lights will end at Lyon.
Already, at the beginning of the season, the Trophée des Champions won by OL against PSG, on August 28 in Dunkirk (1-0), took place on a Sunday evening, simultaneously with Paris-SG-Monaco (1-1) .
Wednesday, the Champions League match, Lyon-FC Zürich (4-0), was played at 18:45 in front of about 2,000 people at the Groupama stadium (59,000 seats), for 8,000 tickets issued against 15,000 this time, a figure still maintained by the organizers.
The decline in public interest is remarkable: as of November 2019, OL-PSG had attracted 30,661 spectators.
“OL are the best team in the world and have performed well for many years. It’s disappointing to not have more audience. Playing in front of the world is more pleasant and important for the players ”, laments Sonia Bompastor, evoking a culture difference with Spain or England.
