At the end of this 32nd day of Ligue 1, Olympique Lyonnais received Angers at Groupama Stadium. Unable to win since March 3 against Stade Rennais (1-0), OL absolutely had to win again tonight in order not to be left behind in the race for the podium. Held in check by Montpellier last Sunday (1-1), the SCO could almost record its maintenance in the event of success against Les Gones. For this 9 pm poster, Rudi Garcia lined up a 4-2-3-1 with the only Slimani at the forefront. For his part, Stéphane Moulin relied on a 5-3-2 with Bahoken and Thioub in attack.
It was not until the eleventh minute to see the first opportunity of the match. Guimaraes found Paqueta in the box but the unbalanced Brazilian midfielder could not get on target against Bernardoni. Tactically rigorous, the SCO secured their first opportunity five minutes later. Well shifted to the right, Bamba distilled a good cross for Bahoken whose attempt was rejected by Lopes (16th). OL were pushing and Cornet saw his strike difficultly captured by Bernardoni (19th). It was only a postponement for the Rhone who opened the scoring two minutes later.
OL finally return to victory
Depay sent a good cross for Paqueta in front of the goal which saw his attempt hit the upright. Capelle was not clearing the leather that came back to Depay, whose volley adjusted Bernardoni (1-0, 21st). Stunned, Stéphane Moulin’s men tried to react but Fulgini’s roll was deflected for a corner by Lopes (28th). Just before the break, OL made the break. On the left, Toko Ekambi provoked and crossed in six meters for Paqueta who catapulted the leather into the back of the net (2-0, 41st). When they returned from the locker room, Rudi Garcia’s men were missing the 3-0. On the left, Slimani shifted Depay in the area whose roll was deflected for a corner by Bernardoni (50 ‘).
Around the hour mark, the SCO was more enterprising and Fulgini saw his shot repelled by Lopes (62nd). In a strong moment, Angers got a new opportunity by Cho at the reception of a center of Bamba (65th). Olympique Lyonnais struck the final blow at the end of the match. Paqueta threw Depay in depth, the dive of which lobbed Bernardoni (3-0, 83rd). Thanks to this eighteenth success of the season, OL came one step behind AS Monaco in the standings.
Find the film of the match on our live commentary.
Man of the Match: Depay (7.5): positioned in the left lane this evening, the Lyon captain did not hesitate to dezone so far. Always available to the ball carrier, all his initiatives were not successful at the start of the match. Dangerous by his ball grips and his technique, the Dutch international settles the situation for his team. At the start of the action which brought the goal with a good cross for Paqueta, he was at the end with a nice volley to deceive Bernardoni (1-0, 21st). Free in his movements, the number ten tried to create shifts. Well served by Slimani, his roll is diverted for a corner by Bernardoni (50th). The former Mancunien has often evolved in the axis in the second act to win. The main protagonist takes advantage of a deep caviar from Paqueta to lob a clever pique Bernardoni (3-0, 83rd).
Olympique Lyonnais
Lopes (6): the Portuguese goalkeeper saves his own twice against Bahoken (16th) then on a curled shot from Fulgini (28th). The Lusitano international remains vigilant on a strike from Fulgini (62nd). A serious match for the Lyon goalkeeper.
Dubois (4): the former Nantes man did not have time to project himself too far forward in the first act. The French international has made every effort to block his corridor and to play simple. He is surprised on the handover of Thioub which brings the coiled strike of Fulgini (28th). Unsure for this game, he looked physically limited tonight. Replaced at the 58th through By Sciglio who brought nothing
Marcelo (4): Established in central hinge tonight, the Brazilian central defender does not close the door to Bahoken on the center of Bamba (16th). The person concerned appeared in difficulty at certain times in the duels and the reading of the game. Lack of vigilance in marking the opportunity of Cho (65th).
Denayer (5): the Red Devil is solid in duels and brings serenity to his defense. The Belgian central defender handled the few Angevin incursions rather well, unlike his central hinge companion Marcelo. In difficulty in one against one on the attempt of Fulgini (62nd).
Cornet (3,5): very offensive as usual, the Lyon side does not hesitate to bring offensively in his lane. But it can play tricks on him with opponents who dive behind his back, as with Bamba on the occasion of Bahoken (16th). The former Messin carried to the front posts sees his strike captured by Bernardoni (19th). Aware of his offensive inclinations, the Angevins often went through his lane to attack. Taken again by Bamba on the occasion of Cho (65th). Replaced at the 73rd through Bard
Guimaraes (4): the Brazilian midfielder left the initiative to Caqueret to organize the Lyon game. Very applied in his initiatives, the international Auriverde often played sideways in the first act. Could have been a decisive passer for Paqueta at the start of the match (11th). Very discreet despite an obvious connection with Paqueta, the person concerned struggles to find the level displayed on his arrival in Lyon. Replaced at the 73rd through Thiago mendes involved on the third goal of Depay (83rd).
Caqueret (7.5): the young Lyon midfielder is interesting in recovering the ball but also in his forward transmissions. Close to his defense, he was the first launch pad for his people. Always very clear-sighted in his choices, the interested party is at ease as well in the small intervals as in the long game. Its volume of play remains to be emphasized, as does its ability to harass the ball carrier and trigger the pressing. His defensive replacement shows a certain discipline in his state of mind. A clean copy returned this evening.
Toko Ekambi (5.5): the Cameroonian winger is distinguished by his good activity in his right lane. Not always found in good conditions by his partners, the Indomitable Lion remains interesting in the game on the move. Dangerous when he goes deep, his cross is decisive on the second goal scored by Paqueta (2-0, 41st). A little less successful in the second act and also more discreet.
Package (6.5): the Brazilian midfielder has a large volume of play and is very involved in defensive tasks. But his technical quality also allows him to be dangerous offensively. Clumsy on a caviar from Guimaraes (11th), the former Milanese is involved in the opening of the Lyon score with his miss on the post of Bernardoni (21st). Generous especially in the harassment of the wearer, he sometimes experienced waste in his transmissions. Rewarded for his efforts by a goal on a center from Toko Ekambi (2-0, 41st). A little less prominent in the second act, the person still had time to distill a good assist for Depay (3-0, 83rd). Replaced at the 88th through Cherki
Depay (7.5): see above.
Slimani (5.5): Established this evening in the absence of Kadewere, the Algerian striker weighed on the Angevin defense. A real point of attachment, Fennec allows its partners to find themselves in a preferential position. Very valuable by its sense of sacrifice and its positioning, its shifts and discounts were interesting as on the action of Depay (50th). A little waste in his game surely due to the lack of sequence of matches.
Angers SCO
Bernardoni (4): the 23-year-old goalkeeper has had a rather frustrating evening. Unfortunately, he couldn’t do much on Lyon’s goals, because he was a bit neglected. But the former Bordeaux goalkeeper made some beautiful parades which allowed his team not to sink definitively in this meeting (18th, 49th, 77th).
Bamba (4): like his friend on the left side, Bamba was rather interesting offensively. His many climbs were useful and resulted in very precise crosses which would even have deserved to be decisive (16th, 65th). Defensively on the other hand, he seemed embarrassed by Depay’s positioning and some of his interventions were very limited (62nd, 34th).
Pavlovic (3): rather average game from the experienced Croatian defender. In the first period, he was hampered by the back-to-goal play and the physique of Islam Slimani. On the corner that will allow Lyon to open the scoring, he seemed lost in the area completely forgetting to mark Memphis Depay. To hope not to concede a goal, it was necessary that the faithful defender of Stéphane Moulin ensures especially in the duels with the Algerian striker, this was not the case.
Traoré (3): in this three-way defense, Ismael Traoré was in great difficulty. He lacked aggressiveness and too often left Lyon attackers free. It was he who caught a cold on the excellent work of Toko Ekambi who will bring OL’s second goal (41st). We expected better from him.
Thomas (3): with his experience and his positioning in the axis of this defense to 3, Romain Thomas was to bring serenity to the defense of the Scoists. Unfortunately, I was rather feverish tonight. If he made a magnificent intervention in front of Depay at the start of the meeting (20th) and he was not very calm thereafter. We could in particular blame him for a lack of concentration, especially in terms of marking which has put his team in difficulty at times.
Doumbia (3): in his left lane, if Souleyman Doumbia was interesting and available offensively, he was much less so in his defensive role. He did not really succeed in containing the Lyon attacks and showed defensive largesse in the meeting, especially on the second Lyon goal where his marking on Paqueta left something to be desired (41st).
Tinder (3.5): the former Sevilla FC player responded in the physical impact, but he failed to follow and block Memphis Depay in the heart of the game. We also felt very quickly tired in the second half where he was was much less present in the impact and on certain actions where its defensive pullback was very slight. Replaced by Ould Khaled at the 81st.
Capelle (4): his good technical quality allowed him to be very comfortable relaunching cleanly and keeping the ball. But he suffered in the face of Paqueta’s placement, which often ended up behind him. The Brazilian has often freed himself from the marking to finish the actions in the Angers area. Replaced by Thomas Mangani at the 60th. The French did not know how to influence the game of his team.
Fulgini (6): in this Angers team, Angelo Fulgini was able to show all his technical palette. Very free in the field, he was able to cause a lot of problems for the Lyon defense. His ability to always keep the ball well and each time move in the back of Guimaraes and Caqueret have greatly helped his team. He could have scored a nice goal after without the parade of Lopes (27th). He has been in all the dangerous actions of his team. Replaced by Bobichon at the 85th.
Thioub (3): his tenure on the right lane of the attack was undoubtedly intended to block the climbs of Maxwell Cornet and allow his team to exploit the sides as much as possible. If he knew at times to exploit the spaces, the former Nîmes had difficulty playing just as well in attack as in defense where he often left too alone his teammate Bamba. Replaced by Mohamed ali cho at the 60th. The young striker could have revived his team, but his recovery lacked precision (65th). He tried a lot.
Bahoken (4.5): on the attack front, Bahoken posed a lot of concerns for OL’s defense. His throw-in play and deep calls disturbed Denayer et al. He could have opened the scoring by taking a good cross from Bamba but his shot was well repelled by Anthony Lopes (16th). He didn’t miss much to find the way to the net. An interesting match. Replaced by Lois Diony at the 60th. The 28-year-old striker failed to make a difference in this game. We will find a nice sequence that will crash on the bar at the very end of the match.
