It was time for victory for the Lyonnais. After a complicated first against Stade Rennais (2-3), Laurent Blanc’s Olympique Lyonnais absolutely had to win on the lawn of Montpellier, also looking for points and with a new coach: Romain Pitau, after the dismissal by Olivier Dall’Oglio. In a 4-2-2-2 with the returns of Aouar and Mendes in midfield, while Boateng was again in central defense. Almost at a standstill since the start of the season, the Lyon attack is gradually starting. Quickly, they were pressing on Omlin’s goal. Dembélé, Caqueret and Lacazette tried, but it was finally Aouar – who came from afar – who opened the scoring (1-0, 33rd). But after the break, OL finally fell back into their ways of the Bosz era.
Because the opportunities to make the break, the Lyonnais did not miss them, like the big miss from Lacazette towards Dembélé, while the defense of the Héraultais had missed (55th). And finally, Montpellier took advantage of it. Ferri rolled up a cross towards Wahi, who made a masterful point-blank scissor to equalize (1-1, 70th). An ultimately logical equalizer, after the offensive errors of the Lyonnais. And in an incomprehensible end to the match – where Diomandé and Mavididi were excluded – neither team managed to make a difference. But there is a Laurent Blanc touch which seems to motivate the Lyonnais. In stoppage time, after excellent work by Caqueret, Lacazette pierced Kamara’s net to finally offer Les Gones a victory, celebrated by the entire workforce on the sidelines (2-1, 90th + 1). Like a symbol. Dropped in the standings, Olympique Lyonnais (9th) will have to win against Lille to continue its momentum, during the 13th day. Still in a bad patch, the MHSC (11th) will go to Rennes to reconnect with success.
Man of the match: Lacazette (8): Author of the first strike – on target – of the meeting (8th), the Rhone captain gave his team the benefit of all his technical palette to facilitate their offensive movements. Decisive passer on the opener (33rd), the former Arsenal also obtained several opportunities. Imprecise on a pass that could – and should – have been decisive for Dembélé (54th), the Red and Blue captain nevertheless delivered a very good performance, multiplying the runs and showing great accuracy in his ball catches. To crown the latter, Alexandre Lacazette offered a capital success to his family, at the dawn of additional time in the game (90th).
Montpellier HSC
Omlin (not rated): the Swiss goalkeeper was able to quickly get into his game by capturing Lacazette’s volley in two stages (8th), before putting Caqueret in check, finally offside (15th). If he is taken on the wrong foot by Aouar, he was able to deflect Tagliafico’s center into the area. Injuring himself alone, he is replaced by B. Kamara (43rd, 6). His parade on the head of Diomandé, in an illicit position, gave him confidence for the last half hour (60th), before winning ahead of Toko Ekambi (72nd). He also made a superb save against Reine-Adelaide (84th), before capturing the deflected attempt of KTE (86th), but lost on the powerful strike of Lacazette (90th).
Chato (3.5): the young Cameroonian international (1 selection) had a complicated start to the meeting, having to manage Tagliafico and Aouar on his flank. Very in difficulty in the first period, he was injured after the break, leaving his place to Souquet (55th). Just as in demand as his outgoing counterpart, the former Niçois brought his freshness to keep solidity to the right of his defense.
Julien (4.5): if he has a little trouble containing the Dembele-Lacazette duo, the former Violet nevertheless knew how to reassure his people with his placement. Sometimes imprecise on his transmissions and his reading of the game, he was able to delay the passes in his camp by playing his physique on the Lyon attackers. He came out perfectly in the feet of Tagliafico in front of his goal (73rd), to then counter the head at the near post of Lacazette (88th).
Esteve (5): the young defender trained at the club seemed vigilant alongside Cozza on the right lane, good in his anticipation, especially on set pieces. He also tried to run the ball up to find spaces in the back of the opposition defence.
Coza (4.5): A trained central defender, the orange-and-blue number 31 has sometimes left Gusto too much space. In his area, he forgot Aouar behind him, the only scorer at the far post. Pushed by the public, his low shot led to a double intervention by Lopes (45th). More offensive after the break, he just missed the ball at the far post (50th).
Ferris (6): the ex-Lyonnais was first cornered in his own camp, having trouble keeping his head above water against the opposing midfielder. He was able to create some space and distill good counter balls for his offensives. Further up the pitch to help his attacking side, he provided a fine assist for Wahi’s equally fine goal. Replaced by Chotard (82nd)
Fayad (5): preferred to Chotard in the midfield, the young hope of the training center, like his friend Ferri, was overtaken by the opposing midfield. He nevertheless tried to participate in the collective game of his people, especially after returning from the locker room, to get the last opposing third.
Maouassa (4): Expected on the left of the defense, the former Rennais showed a lot of movement, also taking interesting offensive initiatives and worrying Lopes (20th). Defensively, he tried to support his teammate on the right Tchato, but was often overwhelmed by opposing ball circulation. It is replaced by Nordin (55th).
Savannah (5): faulty on the goal conceded in Lens last week, captain pailladin was expected on the lawn of the Mosson. It was he who lit Montpellier’s first fuse with a left-footed volley, above the opposing goals (10′). Nevertheless, he was less prominent, very little available on the ball. He did not lose his precision, being dangerous on set pieces. Warned (58th), guilty of an excess of commitment on Caqueret.
Mavididi (3): Quickly in leg in this match, the Englishman knew how to bring the danger ball to the foot in the opposite camp, causing the yellow of Aouar at the start of the match. Often asking for the sphere in his feet, he tried to make differences on his corridor, without success in the first period. Following a head-to-head with Diomande, the referee decided to send him a red, just like his opponent (75th).
Wahi (5.5): unlike his friend, the club’s top scorer had a lot more trouble showing himself in the Hérault game. Before the break, he finally appeared on the few Montpellier attacks, narrowly missing the ball in front of goal (44th). More prominent after the break, he crucified Lopes with a superb return from close range (70th) before being warned for a behavioral concern (75th). Replaced by Germain (83rd).
Olympique Lyonnais
Lops (5.5): Saved by the outside of his right post (20th), the OL goalkeeper had a rather calm first period, only called upon during the last five minutes of the latter. Miraculous on a point-blank header from Cozza from the start of the second act (50th), he could not however do anything on the magnificent bicycle of Elye Wahi (70th).
Diomandé (6): very harshly excluded in the last quarter of an hour of the meeting, the right central defender had so far delivered a convincing performance. Regularly closing the door to Montpellier’s offensives, he was not always dominant in his duels, however, winning only 2 out of the 6 he had to negotiate.
Boateng (4.5): in the center of the 3-man defense set up by Laurent Blanc, the experienced back was certainly the most disappointing of OL’s players. Lacking physical freshness, the German international showed accuracy in his passing game, but was too often on the back foot during the Montpellier attack phases. Replaced by Da Silva (59th)passive on the goal of Wahi.
Lukeba (6.5): perfectly accompanying the climbs of his block, the young, but already boss, player trained in Lyon was notably the author of the high recovery leading to the opener of the score of Houssem Aouar (33rd). Going to look very high for opposing players, he was also interesting thanks to his sense of anticipation.
Gusto (7): after a first quarter of an hour during which he distinguished himself more defensively than offensively, the trend then reversed for the young right piston, through whom the majority of Lyon’s offensives have passed. The most affected player among the eleven Lyon players, he had a much better match than last week.
Caqueret (7.5): with a lot of activity, dezoning a lot on the right of the playing area, while being very active in the defensive game, Maxence Caqueret also demonstrated that he was comfortable in the exercise of kicks arrested. Author of a high quality match, he was rewarded with a saving decisive pass at the very end of the match (90th).
Thiago Mendes (5.5): repositioned in a role that is much more natural to him, the Brazilian had to find his marks. Low point of the trio in the visitors’ midfield, the former Lille player alternated between short game and long game, dictating his team’s time and balancing his midfield. A promising “first” for the Brazilian.
Aouar (5.5): sanctioned in the first minutes of the match (6th), this did not prevent the Lyon midfielder from opening the scoring, at the conclusion of a fine collective movement (33rd). Close to offering himself a double a few minutes later (40th), Aouar physically plunged on the hour mark. Replaced by Queen Adelaide (64th).
Tagliafico (6.5): Playing first can pay off. As in Rennes last week, the Argentinian crossed in this way, this afternoon on the penultimate pass. Taking advantage of the high block of his team, the former Ajax player has regularly embedded himself inside the game to try to bring the surplus on the multiple Lyon incursions.
Dembele (6): pivot, but not only. Still just as combative, the Lyon number 9 also showed intelligence to open up spaces for his teammates. Decisive on the opener for OL, thanks to the aspiration of Cozza, the player trained at PSG saw a goal taken away that seemed ready made. Replaced by Toko Ekambi (64th) who notably offered himself a big opportunity a few minutes after coming into play.
Lacazette (8): see above
